Sanjay Raut blames Amit Shah as Sena (UBT) and MNS trade barbs over attacks on convoys of Uddhav and Raj

“We made it clear on Friday that the Sena (UBT) had nothing to do with what happened to the MNS chief in Beed. However, if anyone says there is a reaction to every action, it is their delusion. It will be cleared within two months after the Assembly polls,” Raut added, in an apparent dig at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

“I do not support the act of targeting the convoys or vehicles of any leaders, since this is not the culture of our state and I am not defending anyone. But the incident that took place in Thane on Saturday night is a reaction to the action of Sena (UBT) workers. The protest by MNS workers was in response to the actions of the Shiv Sena (UBT). Whenever there is an action, a reaction follows,” Shinde had said.

It was on Friday that MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s convoy was attacked by Shiv Sena (UBT) workers with betel nuts in Beed district. On Saturday evening, MNS supporters retaliated by pelting Uddhav’s convoy with dung, tomatoes, coconuts, and bangles in Thane.

The incident occurred as Uddhav’s convoy was en route to the Gadkari Rangayatan Hall, where he addressed party workers. MNS supporters raised party flags and chanted slogans against Uddhav, leading to a commotion that required intervention from the Thane police, which detained several MNS workers, including women.

MNS leaders defended the protest, describing it as a spontaneous reaction to the attack on Raj’s convoy during his Marathwada tour related to Maratha reservation.

After the attack on his convoy, Raj had warned of retaliation if such incidents continued. “The protesters were office-bearers of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP(SP), and they had nothing to do with Maratha reservation. They are using the issue for their political benefit. I urge them not to fuel tensions between communities… Do not cross my path in the future, or you will not be able to hold any election rallies in the state. I cannot predict what my supporters will do if they start retaliating,” he told reporters on Saturday.

The attack on Uddhav’s convoy in Thane, a stronghold of Shinde, came shortly after his estranged cousin Raj’s statement.

As of Sunday afternoon, the Thane police had booked over 44 MNS workers for rioting and unlawful assembly and named Thane MNS leader Avinash Jadhav as the main accused.

Taking responsibility for the protest, Jadhav said, “Sena (UBT) workers targeted Raj Saheb and so this was a response given by our workers. We did what we did… If anyone points a finger at Raj Saheb, there will be retaliation… We will cooperate with the police.”

Speaking about the Thane incident, Raut said the protest and throwing of coconuts would not make any difference to the Sena (UBT). “Some objects were thrown at Uddhav Thackeray’s convoy taking advantage of darkness. However, the miscreants escaped due to darkness. If they were men, they would have come forward and attacked. If they had guts they would have come in front of us and dared to throw stuff. After that they would have got to know the repercussions of such an act. I urge them on behalf of the Shiv Sena (UBT) not to take advantage of darkness to do such an act. Your parents, wives and children are waiting at home. They should not go to such a low level,” he said.