Even Lord Ram will be restless over developments in MP's Khargone: Sanjay Raut
"BJP sowing communal discord to win polls"
Mumbai(PTI): Stating that stoking communal fires in the name of Shriram is an insult to the very "idea of Lord Ram", Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said even Lord Ram will be restless over the developments in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone, where communal clashes on Ram Navami led to the imposition of curfew.
He accused the BJP of adopting a strategy of sowing religious discord to win elections, even at the cost of breaking the country.
In his weekly column "Rokhthok" in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', Raut wrote, "if someone wants to stoke the fire of fundamentalism and disturb the peace to win elections, they are sowing seeds of a second Partition".
Raut is the executive editor of Saamana.
Referring to communal clashes in various parts of the country on Ram Navami on April 10, Raut stated it was not a good sign.
"Earlier, Ram Navami processions were all about culture and religion. But now swords are brandished and communal discord is created. Ruckus was created outside mosques resulting in violence," he alleged.
In a veiled swipe at BJP, Raut said those who abandoned the Ram mandir movement midway are now displaying swords in the name of Lord Ram. "This cannot be called Hindutva. Stoking communal fires in name of Lord Ram is an insult to the idea of Ram," he said.
"Even Lord Ram will be restless over the developments in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone," the Sena leader stated.
Raut said cultural processions were taken out in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, on Gudhi Padwa on April 2 marking the Hindu and Marathi new year, but there was no violence even after these processions passed through Muslim localities.
"There was no violence. Why should all the violence happen on Ram Navami? Can anyone believe Muslims will hurl stones at a Ram Navami procession in Gujarat, the home state of PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah?" he asked referring to violence in Sabarkantha.
Raut accused Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray of implementing the BJP's agenda.
"...(The agenda is) Create law and order problems in Maharashtra to pave the way for imposition of President's rule," he wrote.
The MNS chief recently said that if the Maharashtra government fails to remove loudspeakers atop mosques by May 3, 'Hanuman Chalisa' will be played at a higher volume outside mosques.
He had also batted for the implementation of Uniform Civil Code in the country and a law to curb the population growth.
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Fadnavis rides motorcycle to Vidhan Bhavan, says PM Modi asked only for 'small sacrifices'
Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday rode a motorcycle to the Vidhan Bhavan here and later defended the Centre's austerity measures, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has only "asked people to make small sacrifices".
He also criticised the Opposition for creating "unnecessary controversy" over the matter, adding that questioning the PM's foreign visits - aimed at strategic alliances and economic benefits - was "sheer foolishness".
Fadnavis arrived at the Vidhan Bhavan in South Mumbai on a motorbike from his residence 'Varsha', with BJP leader and minister Ashish Shelar accompanying him, to attend the swearing-in of new members of the legislative council.
The move comes as part of the measures after PM Modi's appeal to conserve fuel and foreign exchange in view of the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has disrupted global energy supplies. India relies heavily on West Asia for crude oil and gas imports.
On Wednesday, CM Fadnavis announced a series of austerity measures, including halving the number of vehicles in the convoys of his cabinet colleagues, and cancelling foreign tours of ministers and officials.
Addressing reporters here on Thursday, Fadnavis said the state government had curtailed convoys, cancelled avoidable foreign tours and decided against holding large government events for the next six months.
Targeting the Opposition, the CM said similar austerity measures had been adopted by previous governments, including during the tenures of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao, as well as by former finance minister P Chidambaram in 2012.
"The Opposition needs to show some maturity. Countries across the world have taken even tougher decisions. The prime minister has only asked people to make small sacrifices while himself taking very tough decisions. Creating unnecessary controversy over this is not appropriate," he said.
Fadnavis said he travelled by motorcycle to send a message on fuel conservation, adding that symbolic actions by political leaders help spread awareness among people.
"When leaders act symbolically in this manner, the message reaches the people. That is why I came here on a motorcycle," he stressed.
The chief minister said all unnecessary foreign visits by officials and ministers had been stopped, and efforts were underway to reduce fuel consumption and save foreign exchange.
"We have reduced our convoys. Wherever petrol and diesel can be saved, wherever foreign exchange can be conserved, we are making every possible effort," he said.
Fadnavis said a major government event scheduled in Satara on Friday would, however, go ahead as it was planned in advance and expenditure had already been incurred.
He said around 25 lakh families would receive benefits valued at Rs 10,000 crore under the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana during the programme.
"After this event, however, no large government programmes will be organised over the next six months," he added.
The CM also dismissed criticism on social media over PM Modi's foreign visits, saying overseas trips aimed at strategic alliances and economic gains for the country should not be equated with avoidable travel.
"The appeal is only against unnecessary foreign travel. It does not mean businessmen should cancel important overseas deals. Criticising the prime minister's foreign visits is sheer foolishness," he said.
