Raut says CM is not Maharashtra's owner, questions tree felling and Thane case

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut criticised the state government and the Chief Minister on a range of issues. He spoke on the teachers' constituency result, farmers' concerns, the Thane case, an audio clip said to involve Rs 500 crore, the environment and election funds.

On the results for the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Raut said the outcome had been good in some places. He said the result in the Pune graduates' constituency was especially important. He also said there was a close contest in Nagpur, and claimed the results indicated the political mood in the days ahead.

Raut conceded that the teachers' constituency result went in the government's favour, but said the graduates' constituency result did not. He alleged that Rs 10,000 was distributed to teachers and expressed surprise at it. He said that since this government came to power, an attempt was being made to buy the teaching profession. He appealed to teachers to uphold the dignity of their profession.

On the Diwali grant, Raut said the Chief Minister was giving farmers Rs 11,000. He challenged the Chief Minister to celebrate Diwali with the farmers. Raut said that on one side financial aid was being announced, while on the other farmer suicides were continuing.

Referring to the case involving Meenakshi and Rajendra Shinde in Thane, Raut demanded the arrest of those concerned. He claimed hundreds of people in Thane had taken to the streets. He questioned the police's conduct and asked under whose pressure the Thane police were working. He also asked what the Special Investigation Team (SIT) would do in the case. He warned that if arrests were not made, the police would be responsible for law and order. Raut also said Ram Purnekar had the right to go to the guardian minister's house and seek justice.

In the matter of the alleged Rs 500 crore audio clip, Raut criticised the investigating agencies. He questioned the SIT's efficiency and objected to the role of the officers conducting the probe. Raut made clear that he would not give up pursuing the matter. He also made allegations against Sudhir Mehta over election funds. Raut claimed that Mehta gave the BJP Rs 550 crore as election funds and, in addition, paid a separate sum in cash.

On the environment, Raut sharply criticised the state government. He said Raj Thackeray and environmentalists were coming forward on the issue, and that the Shiv Sena would surround the hill. Opposing the felling of trees, he cited Indian scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose, who proved that trees also have life. Raut challenged the government over the issue of 2,637 trees and said the Chief Minister should himself go to the hill and see the situation.

Referring to forests, SRA projects and historical heritage, Raut said the Chief Minister of Maharashtra was not the owner of the state. He said old trees and forests give historical heritage its importance, and alleged that this heritage was being destroyed. He also raised questions about money transactions linked to forest felling and about the SRA project.

Raut alleged that Rahul Narwekar had grabbed land in Raigad. He also remarked that a Chief Minister should be cultured. On the removal of documentaries, Raut said Raj Thackeray's documentary had been taken down. He added that if his own documentary were removed, he would upload it again.