Sanjay Raut abuses rebel Sena UBT MPs on camera, says do not beep it out

Out of 9 Lok Sabha MPs, only Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje attended Sanjay Raut's press conference in Delhi. He claimed that an "important person" had informed him that attempts were being made to bribe MPs, alleging Rs 50 crore deals with Rs 15 crore as advance, and that some MPs refused to travel without payment.

In Short

• Sanjay Raut alleges Rs 50 crore offered to MPs for switching sides
• Warns against betrayal, vows legal battle and worker protests
• Raut specifically instructed that the abusive portion should not be censored

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut launched a profanity-laced attack on the rebel MPs reportedly eyeing a switch from the Uddhav Thackeray camp, vowing that the party would not spare "backstabbers" and challenging them to resign and openly join the NDA.

After unleashing a string of expletives and describing the rebel MPs as beimaan (betrayers), Raut, while addressing the media, urged reporters not to beep out his abuses.

"These s*** bh**** should leave...don't cut," he said, adding that "betrayal is in their blood."

He challenged any dissidents to resign first and said those elected on the party's ticket had no right to betray the mandate.

COMMON MARATHI: SANJAY RAUT DEFENDS ABUSIVE REMARKS

Defending his abusive remarks at the press conference, Sanjay Raut said he had not said anything wrong, as such expressions are commonly used in Maharashtra and the Marathi language.

He clarified that he had not made any such remarks in Parliament, but argued that wrongdoing or corruption should not be met with praise. “If someone does something wrong or commits corruption, will we shower flowers on them?” he asked.

He also went on to allege that some MPs from the Uddhav Sena camp were being offered Rs 50 crore to switch sides, as speculation grew over a possible split in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).

In a fresh development, the six rebel MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray camp have sent a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking to merge with Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, sources said.

A senior Shinde Sena leader accompanied the six rebel MPs to Delhi, sources said. These MPs flew to Delhi from Nanded, Pune and Mumbai in private planes, they added.

Raut said the party had no official information about any split and was learning of reports about some MPs breaking away through the media. He said Shiv Sena (UBT) had begun legal steps, issued a whip ahead of its parliamentary party meeting scheduled for Thursday, and written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asking him to act strictly in line with constitutional provisions.

Of the party's nine Lok Sabha MPs, only Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje were present at the press conference. Raut said an "important person" had informed him late on Tuesday night that efforts were under way to "buy" MPs from Maharashtra. "I was told that the rate is Rs 50 crore and that Rs 15 crore each would be delivered by tonight. They were allegedly unwilling to board the aircraft without receiving the money," the Rajya Sabha MP said.

Raut said that if political parties were broken in this way, there was no meaning left in fighting elections. He also warned that Maharashtra and Sena (UBT) workers would not remain silent if there was a repeat of the events that led to the split in the undivided Shiv Sena in 2022.

EKNATH SHINDE NOT CAPABLE OF LEADING REBELLION: SANJAY RAUT

"If anybody wants to leave, they should first resign. They have come to Parliament on our party's ticket and because voters elected them," Raut said. He added that party leaders had already taken legal precautions and that the matter would not be resolved easily. "A legal battle will follow. It is not so easy. Anyone thinking that a few people can gather and settle matters through money is mistaken," he said.

When confronted by India Today after the press conference, Raut distanced himself from naming any MPs who, he claimed, had received crores of rupees, saying, "I haven't named any party." When questioned whether Eknath Shinde was the mastermind behind the UBT MPs’ rebellion, Raut said that he is "not such a big man."

Sawant said none of the MPs had officially informed the party about any decision to leave and that all such reports were coming through the media and social media.

Desai said the party's faith in its MPs remained intact, though legal safeguards were being put in place as a precaution. The three leaders said they had no official information about any split and were reacting only to reports that had surfaced in the media.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders alleged that the practice of "buying and breaking" elected representatives was against democracy and the Constitution. Raut said that during Sunday's meeting of Sena (UBT) parliamentarians with Uddhav Thackeray, one MP had taken Sai Baba's oath four times, another had sworn in the name of Goddess Bhavani, and others had sworn on their children and mothers that they would remain with the party.

"We spent our blood and sweat for these MPs. We gave them tickets and whatever financial help we could. If such reports are true, they should deny them," he said.

Raut further said the MPs had been elected because of Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and the late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, and not because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

He said the party had issued a whip, convened its parliamentary party meeting and written to Speaker Om Birla. Repeating his charge, he said buying and breaking elected representatives was against democracy and the Constitution.

He also alleged pressure was being brought on Dharashiv MP Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar. Raut said the verdict in the 20-year-old murder case of Nimbalkar's father had been scheduled for Wednesday, and claimed the MP had been told that if he wanted a favourable verdict, he should join "their group". He added that the verdict was now likely to be pronounced on Saturday.

"If this is happening, what remains of the Constitution, the courts and democracy? Tomorrow's parliamentary party meeting will reveal the situation. Everyone has been invited and everyone should attend," Raut said.

He ended by saying, "Whatever the party has given us, we cannot forget. Balasaheb Thackeray treated us like sons and Uddhav Thackeray has always treated us like brothers." The developments unfolded as Shiv Sena (UBT) prepared for Thursday's meeting amid continuing reports of unrest within its parliamentary ranks.

- Ends
Inputs from PTI and Himanshu Mishra