Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday slammed the meeting between NCP chief Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit, asking if the two leaders are maintaining their relationship, why should their supporters fight with each other over ideology. Raut added that such ‘hypocrisy’ is not in the Shiv Sena’s DNA. The Rajya Sabha MP said Congress state president Nana Patole and Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray met at Matoshree on Sunday and discussed about Saturday’s meeting between Sharad Pawar and Ajit, and the atmosphere of confusion it created. They also discussed its possible repercussions on the MVA alliance. Last month, Ajit, along with eight other NCP MLAs, had broken ranks with Sharad Pawar and joined the ruling BJP-Shinde government in the state. However, despite the split in the NCP, Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar met four times in the past few weeks, triggering speculations. Raut also appeared to be dissatisfied with the response of Sharad Pawar and NCP MLA Rohit Pawar in which they sought to justify Saturday’s meeting by saying that relations have to be maintained and it was not wrong if a nephew met his uncle. "I saw Sharad Pawar and Rohit Pawar's reactions on the meeting. Sharad Pawar said Ajit is his nephew and hence they met. Yes, he is his nephew. Rohit Pawar said relations have to be maintained. But now the question is why should workers keep fighting on the streets? What message are you giving to those workers who are struggling for the ideology? If leaders keep maintaining their relations, why should workers keep fighting on the street for the ideology?” the Sena MP asked. Raut said that such hypocrisy is not in the Shiv Sena’s DNA. “Tomorrow, if we start having tea with Eknath Shinde or the traitors’ group (MLAs) who have gone with the BJP on a regular basis, what message would it send to the Sainiks who are struggling on the streets, staging protests and taking bullets too. How would they fight? I feel that such hypocrisy is not in the DNA of Shiv Sena. Their (NCP’s) DNA may be different," Raut said on Monday morning. “This fight is for the state and the country. Hence like Mahabharata, we cannot care about those who are in our opposition, be it our family or relatives. This is a fight for Maharashtra and the existence of the country. Hence any act that would create confusion and suspicion in the minds of people should be avoided. It is not expected from Bhishma Pitamaha at least,” Raut said, in an apparent reference to Sharad Pawar. The Sena (UBT) MP said all leaders should ensure that their actions do not create confusion in the minds of people. "We have clarified our stand. We are the people who fight. Relationships should be kept inside the house. If our own people are going to join hands with those who are wrong, then those people are not our relatives.” “Sharad Pawar is the leader and guide of our MVA and INDIA alliance. He has a style of keeping talks open with everyone. We respect that, but we should think about with whom and when the talks should take place and what would be the repercussions of it (meetings). Relations are there, I had good relations with (Eknath) Shinde and even Raj Thackeray. We had good friendship but in politics when our paths change, leaders should take care that there is no confusion among the voters, cadres and leaders," Raut said.
