Raut says Modi plays politics even over illness after PM's phone call to Sharad Pawar

Senior leader Sharad Pawar was undergoing treatment at Ruby Hall hospital in Pune after his health worsened. During this time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi phoned him to ask after his health. Modi told Pawar to take care of his health, saying that Supriya and he would look after the country and that Pawar should not worry. He asked Pawar to recover fully so that he could bless them.

The call has revived talk in political circles about whether Pawar will join the NDA. Speaking to the media, Thackeray faction leader Sanjay Raut said Modi plays politics even over illness and spreads confusion.

Raut said, "Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister, but he is a liar. He phoned Sharad Pawar. Lalu Yadav is also ill. Lalu Yadav is a big leader and Sharad Pawar is also a big leader. Why does he not phone Lalu Yadav? If so, the Prime Minister should ask after all the prominent leaders of the country." According to him, Modi asks after the illnesses that suit him and creates confusion by taking Supriya Sule's name. He asked what one could say about someone who plays politics even in asking after an illness. Raut said that however many dice Modi throws, Sharad Pawar and his party would not fall for his temptations.

Raut claimed that a wind of change of power is blowing across the world and that, against this background, Modi will step down in April. He said, "Modi will go in April or May. I have been saying this for six months. Devendra Fadnavis is also going." He claimed that Modi and Shah would face opposition from their own people.

On the US election, Raut said Trump and Modi have similarities and that Trump, Modi and Netanyahu form a trio. He said the public is looking for an answer to why America entered the war. He said people have rejected the politics of hatred, that people of all religions have won, and that excessive religious bigotry does not work anywhere.

On the appointment of four directors to Gokul, Raut called it the government's high-handedness. He alleged that the aim was to sideline the majority, hand Gokul to those who had lost, and sell it to the Gujarat lobby. He said they do not care for democracy. Seating four directors to suppress public sentiment and bring in their own rule is what is called arrogance, he said. He asked whether a panel that came in through a democratic process was not acceptable to them.

Raut said people would take to the streets. If they do not accept the verdict of 550,000 farmers, what will they do, since they will have to accept defeat, he said. He said the Maha Vikas Aghadi should come together to save Gokul. Fadnavis would have to pay for this, and Amit Shah's bullying should be broken, he said.