Raut alleges 50 people died at Kharghar, Shinde Sena seeks FIR

Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat, Bharat Gogawale and Pawaskar approached the Marine Drive police in the evening demanding an FIR against Raut.

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena ubt, 50 people died at Kharghar, Eknath Shinde, Mumbai news, Maharashtra, Indian Express, current affairs

Raut also hit out at the government for arresting Sena UBT MLAs for carrying out a long march from Nagpur to Akola demanding clean water.

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Hours after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged Thursday that at least 50 to 75 people who attended the Maharashtra Bhushan Award ceremony in Navi Mumbai’s Kharghar died of heatstroke and dehydration but the government was trying to hide the number, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leaders approached the Mumbai police demanding an FIR against Raut for spreading “false information”.

“We have approached the police to register an FIR against Raut for spreading false information. Police have recorded our statements and will register an FIR. We told police that despite 14 people died in the tragedy, Raut falsely claimed that 50 people died and has been speaking in an insulting manner about CM and Deputy Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) and claiming that the followers of Appasaheb Dharmadhikari have been paid to keep quite. He is spreading rumours,” Shinde-led Sena leader Kiran Pawaskar said.

Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat, Bharat Gogawale and Pawaskar approached the Marine Drive police in the evening demanding an FIR against Raut.

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Senior inspector Nilesh Bagul of Marine Drive police station said, “We have received a complaint application against Sanjay Raut. However, no FIR has been registered, we are seeking legal opinion and appropriate action shall be taken.”

According to the Maharashtra government, 14 people died on April 16 due to heat stroke after being hours under the sun at the award ceremony for renowned social activist Appasaheb Dharmadhikari in Kharghar.

Raut said that the followers of Dharmadhikari are being threatened and have been asked not to speak about the incident even as he demanded that the government should resign immediately. “The government is hiding the exact number of casualties in Kharghar. At least 50-75 people have died, this is a recent number coming to the fore. People died while reaching home and some died in their villages. They died without water. People who attended the event are being threatened to not speak,” Raut said.

He asked why Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis are not talking about the tragedy. “Is there any humanity left? This is the same Devendra Fadnavis and his BJP who had camped at Dahanu after sadhus were killed in Palghar. But they are not speaking now when Shri Sevaks (the followers of Dharmadhikari), who are also like sadhus, died. Now, those Shri Sevaks are being threatened and they are given money to keep quiet,” Raut alleged.

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Raut said there was no food and water for the thousands of people who attended the Maharashtra Bhushan Award. “This government has no right to be in power. This government should resign immediately. I agree with Nana Patole’s demand to convene a special two-day session of the legislature. It should be discussed in the legislature as to why this government should not be discussed,” he added.

Raut also hit out at the government for arresting Sena UBT MLAs for carrying out a long march from Nagpur to Akola demanding clean water.

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