States » WestPosted at: Oct 26 2026 2:20PM


Maha: Sanjay Raut targets BJP over Kharge's remarks, questions Rs 500 crore audio clip; backs Nov 1 protest

Mumbai, Oct 26 (UNI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut launched a sharp attack on the BJP over the controversy surrounding Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks, alleging that the ruling party was using the statement to divert public attention from major national issues.
Raut also raised questions over an alleged Rs 500 crore audio clip linked to the Maratha reservation agitation led by Manoj Jarange Patil, the functioning of the judiciary, environmental destruction in Karjat and the role of the NCP in the state government.
Sanjay Raut claimed that Manoj Jarange Patil had brought a serious matter to light by revealing an alleged audio clip referring to Rs 500 crore. He demanded a thorough investigation into the claims and questioned why an FIR had not yet been registered.
"If there was talk of paying Rs 500 crore to stop the agitation, and the money was allegedly given to Shrikant Shinde, why should the matter not be investigated? Where did the money go? This appears to be a hawala-related matter," Raut said.
He questioned why investigations were not being pursued despite arrests in other financial cases and criticised the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for its handling of the matter.
Raut also questioned BJP leader Kirit Somaiya's silence over the alleged audio clip and asked whether union Home Minister Amit Shah had provided the money. He dismissed allegations that he himself had created the audio clip, accusing BJP leaders of making baseless claims.
Significantly, these allegations have not been independently established.
Taking a swipe at Shrikant Shinde, Raut referred to discussions involving amounts of Rs 2,000 crore and Rs 5,000 crore, suggesting sarcastically that Rs 500 crore would be a relatively small amount for those involved.
His remarks came amid demands for an investigation into the alleged audio clip and the claims surrounding the money.
Raut commented on revelations reportedly made in a book by a retired Supreme Court judge concerning the relationship between the judiciary and the government.
He referred to the case heard by former Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud involving his party and said that the judgments had favoured the government and encouraged defections.
Raut argued that concerns about judicial independence should be raised while judges are still holding office, rather than only after retirement.
He said the Supreme Court remained the last ray of hope for citizens and warned that public confidence in justice could suffer if the judiciary appeared to bow to the government.
Reacting to the controversy over Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks, Raut accused the BJP of creating an unnecessary political issue.
He said opposition leaders often had to seek police permission to hold protests and faced arrests and demands for peace bonds, while questioning whether the BJP was being held to the same standards.
Explaining the use of the Hindi word "baap" (father), Raut said the term was commonly used colloquially in rural Maharashtra and could form part of an idiom rather than necessarily being intended as an insult.
He argued that the BJP should focus on pressing national issues instead of organising protests over the wording of a political speech.
"Why are they not protesting over the Chinese troops who allegedly entered seven kilometres into Arunachal Pradesh? Why is there no comparable agitation over the situation in Manipur?" Raut asked.
He also accused the BJP of diverting attention from public concerns by turning Kharge's remarks into a nationwide controversy.
Raut criticised the alleged large-scale tree felling in Karjat, accusing the government of allowing environmental destruction to benefit an industrialist.
He said Maharashtra was being pushed towards ecological devastation for the benefit of a select few and announced that he would visit the area to raise the issue.
"This is not a fake narrative. The environment is being destroyed," he said.
Raut questioned the position of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) within the state government, asking why its leaders were being forced to approach the government as petitioners.
Raut reiterated that the planned protest on November 1 would go ahead, referring to the public mobilisation and urging people to pay attention to the scale of participation.
Responding to reports that trader organisations had appealed to Rahul Gandhi to reconsider the protest because of the festive season, Raut questioned who was actually representing the interests of traders.
He alleged that traders were suffering because of government policies, including demonetisation, the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and action by agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department.
He suggested that concerns about business losses and the stock market were being used to pressure the opposition into postponing the agitation.
Raut said the protest would take place on November 1, as decided by Rahul Gandhi and asserted that the public would have an opportunity to express its dissatisfaction with the government.
He also alleged that the media was facing pressure and that public discontent was not being adequately reported.
Raut further referred to claims in a book by a retired Supreme Court judge that the then Chief Justice of India had been influenced by the government.
He said such allegations raised serious concerns about judicial independence and reiterated that the Supreme Court must remain an institution that citizens can trust.
Raut also criticised the deletion of voters' names from electoral rolls, describing it as ''an infringement of citizens' democratic rights''.
He claimed that the opposition's agitation under Rahul Gandhi's leadership was aimed at raising concerns over the electoral process and defending voting rights.
UNI BHG ATP RSA
Tags: #Maha: Sanjay Raut targets BJP over Kharge's remarks# questions Rs 500 crore audio clip; backs Nov 1 protest
More News

Jarange vows probe into alleged Rs 500-crore audio clip, warns Fadnavis and Shinde

26 Oct 2026 | 3:38 PM

Beed, Oct 26 (UNI) Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Monday announced that his supporters will independently investigate the controversial audio clip on the alleged Rs 500-crore transaction, intensifying the political controversy in Maharashtra.

see more..

Maha: Eknath Shinde to attend ‘Anand Sant Sammelan’ in Trimbakeshwar, reviews Kumbh Mela preparations

26 Oct 2026 | 2:58 PM

Nashik, Oct 26 (UNI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is scheduled to visit Nashik on Monday, to attend the ‘Anand Sant Sammelan’ in Trimbakeshwar.

see more..

17 passengers escape unhurt as MSRTC electric bus catches fire in Pune

26 Oct 2026 | 2:35 PM

Pune, Oct 26 (UNI) A major tragedy was averted as 17 passengers had a narrow escape after an electric air-conditioned Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus caught fire while proceeding to Swargate from Seven Loves Chowk in Pune on Monday.

see more..

Maha: Sanjay Raut targets BJP over Kharge's remarks, questions Rs 500 crore audio clip; backs Nov 1 protest

26 Oct 2026 | 2:20 PM

Mumbai, Oct 26 (UNI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut launched a sharp attack on the BJP over the controversy surrounding Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks, alleging that the ruling party was using the statement to divert public attention from major national issues.

see more..

BJP accuses Rahul and Sonia of directing Kharge's remarks against PM Modi

26 Oct 2026 | 2:19 PM

Mumbai, Oct 26 (UNI) Maharashtra BJP chief spokesperson Navnath Ban on Monday alleged that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected Rahul Gandhi's and Sonia Gandhi's thinking
At a press conference here, Ban accused the Congress of repeatedly using objectionable language against PM Modi and his family, and said such remarks would not affect the PM or interrupt the country's development.

see more..