Uddhav Thackeray 'very positive': Raut on Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS patch-up
Mumbai (PTI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said his party chief Uddhav Thackeray is "very positive" about rapprochement with estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray.
Talking to reporters here, Raut claimed after the reunion buzz even people and parties associated with the Ambedkarite movement are in touch with him and have shown interest to be a part of the new political alignment that is taking shape.
The Rajya Sabha MP recalled chief Constitution framer B R Ambedkar had also taken lead in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and made efforts for unity of 'Marathi manoos' (Marathi-speaking people).
The movement launched in the 1950s advocated for a separate state of Maharashtra consisting of Marathi-speaking population.
"There is no need for anyone to be in the discussion between the two (Uddhav and Raj). I know the feelings they have towards each other and also the family. Relations don't get severed because of politics. Uddhav is very positive (on rapprochement with Raj). His stand is very positive for the betterment of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos," Raut insisted.
Cousins and political rivals Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have sparked speculation about a possible reconciliation with statements indicating they could ignore "trivial issues" and join hands in the larger interest of native Marathi speakers, nearly two decades after a bitter split.
While the MNS chief has maintained uniting in the interest of Marathi manoos was not difficult, former CM Uddhav Thackeray said he was ready to put aside trivial fights, provided that those working against Maharashtra's interests were not entertained.
Raj Thackeray walked out of the united Shiv Sena in 2005 and floated his own party the next year. In the past, the MNS president has opposed and also supported the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a former ally of Uddhav Thackeray, on different occasions.
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Two held in Kodagu for killing gaurs in Kushalnagar Range Forest; main suspect absconding
Madikeri: Forest Department officers of Kushalnagar on Saturday arrested two men, Askar and Vinod Kumar, accused of shooting dead two gaurs after gaining entry into reserve forest area illegally.
Askar (26) is a resident of Kudugadde in Guhya village and Vinod Kumar (34) is a resident of High School Paisari of Siddapur.
The main accused in the case, Suri Subrahmanya of Kudugadde in Guhya, who is suspected to have shot the gaurs, is absconding, the forest officers have said.
The officers said that probe into the case revealed that the miscreants had entered Avaregunda Reserve Forest, which is situated under Kushalnagar Range Forest, and shot dead two gaurs in the last week of April. Although the residents woke up in the middle of the night on hearing the gunshots, the accused succeeded in escaping in a vehicle, leaving the carcasses of the animals behind.
A case was registered by Range Forest Officer (Kushalnagar) Ratan Kumar and an investigation team was formed to function under guidance of Madikeri Deputy Conservator of Forests Bhaskar, ACF Gopal AA, and Ratan Kumar.
The officers have said that the duo was arrested on Saturday. The vehicle that they had used and is registered in the name of one Pazhil is yet to be found. Search is also on for the absconding accused, Suri Subrahmanya, the officers added.
