Fear that Godhra-like incident may take place ahead of 2024 polls: Sanjay Raut
Mumbai, Aug 29: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday claimed there was apprehension that a Godhra train fire-like incident could take place at the time of the Ram temple inauguration ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Talking to reporters here, he also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party's "single-point agenda" was to create religious tensions in the country before the general elections.
The Rajya Sabha member was speaking ahead of the opposition alliance INDIA's meeting here on August 31 and September 1.
"We fear that just like the way Godhra happened, as it is said .similarly, during the Ram Mandir inauguration, trainloads of people will be brought (to Ayodhya) from different parts of the country. A Pulwama-type attack will take place on one of the trains to create communal tensions. This is a fear among people," Raut claimed.
The Godhra train fire incident of February 27, 2002, had triggered widespread riots in Gujarat. An attack on a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel on the Jammu Srinagar Highway on February 14, 2019, had claimed the lives of 40 security personnel.
"It is said that if Pulwama can be orchestrated, it is said Godhra was orchestrated, then such brutal acts can be carried out before the elections. Many political parties have this fear," Raut claimed.
This will be discussed in the INDIA alliance's meeting in Mumbai, he said.
The BJP "fooled" people in 2014 and celebrated an "anniversary" of that fooling in 2019 and staged a "drama of surgical strikes," Raut alleged, claiming further that the saffron party is set to create a rift and communal riots in the country in 2024.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
