'Everything fine', says Sanjay Raut after meeting Sonia, Rahul over Savarkar remark
New Delhi, Mar 29: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday met former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and said "everything is fine", signalling an end to the row over V D Savarkar.
The Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena was upset over Rahul Gandhi's strident attack of Savarkar, a revolutionary leader revered in Maharashtra, leading to friction in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi coalition with the Congress and NCP in the state.
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had asked Rahul Gandhi to tone down the criticism of Savarkar and reminded the Congress leader that the real fight of the opposition parties was with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
"Met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Many important issues were discussed. Everything is fine. There is nothing to worry," Raut said on Twitter.
Raut had spoken with Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday after the intervention by Pawar.
"The opposition is united in Maharashtra as well as in the country," Raut said to questions about opposition unity in Maharashtra.
On Tuesday, Raut said he had raised the Savarkar issue in his talks with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi and MVA partners are on the same page on this matter.
"MVA alliance is intact. If anyone thinks the MVA will break apart, they are wrong," Raut said.
Gandhi is learnt to have assured Raut he would avoid any critical reference to Savarkar.
Pawar raised the issue during a meeting of opposition leaders convened by Kharge on Monday and made it clear that targeting Savarkar would not help the MVA.
As the BJP stepped up attack on Rahul Gandhi and sought his apology for "maligning" India on his recent visit to the UK, the former Lok Sabha member from Wayanad said at a press conference on Saturday that he was not Savarkar and would not apologise.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had slammed Gandhi for his attack on Savarkar and said his outfit will not tolerate any insult of the freedom fighter.
The Thackeray faction had skipped the meeting convened by Kharge as a mark of protest against Gandhi's remarks targeting Savarkar.
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Spirit of Aurangzeb entered Cong leaders' bodies, they want to levy Jizya-like tax: UP CM Adityanath
Saran (Bihar), May 17: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said the spirit of Aurangzeb has entered bodies of Congress leaders and they want to levy tax on the lines of Jizya imposed on non-Muslims during the Mughal king’s era.
Addressing an election rally in favour of BJP leader and NDA nominee Rajiv Pratap Rudy in Saran Lok Sabha seat, Adityanath alleged that the opposition INDIA block is preparing to impose inheritance tax on people if it comes to power.
“The spirit of Aurangzeb has entered the bodies of Congress leaders. That is the reason they are preparing to impose inheritance tax which is similar to Jizya levied on the Hindus during Aurangzeb's rule,” the BJP leader said.
Describing the Congress's alleged inheritance tax plan as “dangerous”, he claimed it will snatch away the assets and rights of people.
“It is part of the Congress’ politics of appeasement. They also want to provide reservations on the basis of religion to benefit Muslims only. The Congress and RJD are trying to rob SCs, STs and OBCs of quotas and divert those to Muslims,” Adityanath said.
Without mentioning Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar by name, he said those singing paeans for Pakistan should not live in India.
"They are a burden on this country… they must go there and beg,” the UP chief minister said.
Aiyar in an interview said it is important to respect Pakistan as it is a sovereign nation and has ‘nuclear bombs’. BJP leaders of late have been mentioning this comment to attack Congress, though Aiyar said the interview was old.
Urging people in Bihar to vote for the NDA only, Yogi said, “The RJD has become a problem like its ally Congress which we tackled effectively in UP reducing their strength to just two in the assembly and in the Lok Sabha polls, they will not be able to open the account”.
Attacking the Samajwadi Party without naming it, the BJP leader said, “Like the RJD here, we had a family ruling the roost in UP unleashing goonda-raj in the state. We put an end to this.”
The people of Bihar should ensure that RJD is defeated in this electoral battle, he said adding that vote for the NDA will put an end to “goonda raj”.
"When the Central government under the leadership of (PM Narendra) Modi Ji is focusing on digital India, RJD leaders are talking about lantern (RJD’s party symbol). Lalu Prasad ji can't think beyond his family,” he said.
Adityanath claimed that there is neither curfew nor riot in UP since criminals there are either in jail or rotting in hell.
“People of Bihar must ensure a third term to Modi Ji for Viksit Bharat and developed Bihar,” he said.
The UP CM alleged that the Congress and RJD used to question the existence of Lord Ram.
“The ongoing elections are a choice between Ram bhakts and Ram drohis. Jo Ram ko laaye hain, hum unko laayenge (We will bring those to power who brought Ram Lala to Ayodhya temple)", he said.
Saran is witnessing a contest between BJP veteran Rajiv Pratap Rudy and RJD’s Rohini Acharya, daughter of Lalu Prasad. Saran will go to polls in the fifth phase on May 20.
