Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut alleges Union minister threatened NCP leader Sharad Pawar

Amid the crisis in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena on Friday alleged that Sharad Pawar, chief of the NCP – an alliance partner with the ruling coalition in the state – was threatened by a Union Minister. Sanjay Raut, the Shiv Sena spokesperson asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah would accept such a thing.

“He is the son of Maharashtra. They are threatening him. Modi-ji, Amit Shah, have you heard? Your minister is threatening Sharad Pawar – do you support such threats?” Raut said. A majority of Shiv Sena MLAs have rebelled against chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and are being led by Eknath Shinde. The threat has reportedly come under this backdrop and context.

The comments followed tweets by Union minister and BJP leader Narayan Rane, who last evening alleged that Sharad Pawar was threatening the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs. “Sharad Pawar is threatening the (rebel) MLAs and says that they should come to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. They will come for sure and vote as per their will. If any harm comes to them, it will be difficult to go home,” Rane tweeted in Marathi.

To this, Raut hit back saying: “A Union Minister threatened that if Sharad Pawar tries to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi, he will not be allowed to go home, and will be stopped on the road. If this is what the BJP is going then you declare it Whether the government stays or goes, such language for Sharad Pawar is unacceptable.”