Maharashtra govt on ventilator support, won't last till February, says Sanjay Raut
Nashik, Jan 7: The Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra is on ventilator support and will fall by February, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said here on Saturday.
He said if the "judiciary is not pressured, then 16 MLAs (of the Shinde faction, which is also called Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena) will be disqualified".
The case pertaining to the split in the Sena into the Uddhav Thackeray and Shinde factions in June last year and demands for disqualification under anti-defection laws is currently underway in the Supreme Court.
On January 10, the apex court will hear a batch of petitions, including one seeking the disqualification of 16 MLAs from the Shinde camp.
"This illegal government is on ventilator support and it will not see February. If the judiciary is not pressured, then 16 MLAs (of the Shinde faction) will be disqualified soon," said Raut.
Accusing the state government, which also includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, of corruption, Raut said the Opposition had sought the resignation of several ministers, including the CM and Abdul Sattar, during the recent winter session of the Assembly.
"But the state government is keeping mum. It does not exist at all. It is as inactive as a buffalo in water. There are two groups in the state government and everyone is engaged with their own issues," the Rajya Sabha MP claimed.
Queried on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray planning to hold a rally near Sena Bhavan in Dadar (the headquarters of the Shiv Sena), Raut said there was no ban on anyone wanting to hold a gathering in front of the iconic structure.
He said the Shiv Sena holds rallies near the MNS chief's home in Shivaji Park (an apparent reference to the party's annual Dussehra rallies).
Raut alleged the MNS will get permission from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation due to a friendly state government and also because the rally itself was BJP-sponsored.
"But we do not get permission. We have to struggle to get permission because the government is frightened of us," Raut added.
The Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena had to move the Bombay High Court to get permission for its Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park last year after the BMC dragged its feet over the party's application.
On Union Minister Narayan Rane's recent claim that he would meet Thackeray to reveal the former's "secret talk" with Raut, the Rajya Sabha MP said, "I talked to Uddhavji just now, he was laughing at Rane's statement."
He also accused Rane and his sons (MLA Nitesh Rane and former Lok Sabha MP Nilesh Rane) of using coarse language to attack the Thackeray family, including levelling baseless allegations against Aaditya Thackeray in connection with the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
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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).
