A DAY after Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut challenged Union Minister for MSME Narayan Rane to face him without his ‘rajasvastra’, the BJP leader on Saturday said he will meet Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and “expose” Raut.
“After I became a member of the Rajya Sabha, Sanjay Raut used to come and sit next to me. I will reveal to Uddhav Thackeray and his wife Rashmi what Raut used to tell me about them… after I reveal that, Uddhav and Rashmi will beat him with a chappal,” Rane told reporters in Mumbai.
Rane claimed that Raut has taken ‘supari’ to finish off the Shiv Sena. “I had worked for the growth of Shiv Sena since it came into being in 1966… But Sanjay Raut is trying to finish off the Sena. From 56 MLAs, the party’s strength has come down to 12 MLAs,” he said.
Responding to Rane’s remark, Raut said, “I never met him after he left the Shiv Sena… I never meet traitors. I have told Uddhav Thackeray about this, he laughed at Rane’s claim.”
He also claimed that Rane has completely “lost it” and is soon going to lose his berth in the Union Cabinet.
“Who is he? A coward who bowed to the BJP, fearing the CBI and ED. He has lost it. He has gone mad. He is frustrated as he knows he will soon lose his Cabinet berth as the BJP wants to accommodate Shinde camp candidates at the Centre,” said the Rajya Sabha MP.
On Friday, Raut had challenged Rane to face him without his ‘rajavastra’ or official attire.
Rane said he was ready to meet Raut anywhere the latter wanted without any protection “I have never sought protection…I have been given protection. I am a minister, I have to tour the country…I am ready to face Raut without any protection..,” he said. “Raut is preparing the ground for going to jail again…,” he added.
In response, Raut had said, “Rane will go to jail for 50 years if his financial dealings are exposed… he should not force me to speak out. Who is he to put me in jail? I had gone to jail for my party. I had not fled like him. I had not surrendered. I am Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sainik.”
Meanwhile, Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat said on Saturday that in the coming days, Uddhav Thackeray will be “finished”. “There is going to be a political earthquake in the next 8-10 days,” he said.
— With inputs from ENS Mumbai
