Is Sanjay Raut Trying to Incite a Violent Situation in India?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sanjay Nirupam criticizes Raut's inflammatory remarks.
- Concerns about potential unrest in India are raised.
- Nirupam demands retraction of Raut's statements.
- Political dialogue should remain peaceful and constructive.
- India's democratic values must be upheld.
Mumbai, Sep 10 (NationPress) Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam criticized Shiv Sena(UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut on Wednesday for allegedly trying to provoke a "violent" atmosphere in India, akin to the turmoil witnessed in neighboring countries, through his "anti-national statements".
Nirupam's comments came in response to Raut's remarks about the violent protests in Nepal, which included vandalism and the burning of government properties, culminating in the resignation of Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.
In a press briefing, Nirupam stated, "The opposition spokesperson, along with others who frequently spread misinformation, posted three tweets within a span of 2-3 hours yesterday. Through these posts, he attempted to intimidate the government and even insinuated that unrest similar to that in Nepal should occur in India."
He accused Raut of making "anti-national" comments and criticized Shiv Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for his silence on the matter.
"If he desires for the country's Parliament, Central Secretariat, and Rashtrapati Bhavan to be set ablaze, and our leaders to be assaulted, then that is undoubtedly a matter of anti-nationalism. If Uddhav Thackeray remains silent and fails to denounce Sanjay Raut, it indicates he shares the same stance," Nirupam remarked, asserting that Raut's statements contradict the "essence of the Constitution".
Nirupam referenced two posts made by Raut on X.
In one post, Raut warned, "This incident can occur in any country! Exercise caution!" while sharing footage of the Nepalese Finance Minister being attacked by a mob, tagging the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
In another post, Raut, once more tagging PM Modi, stated, "Nepal's political crisis compelled PM K.P. Oli to resign as citizens protested against corruption and authoritarianism. This unrest, developing along India's border, necessitates serious analysis by Indian policymakers."
Nirupam remarked that Raut's tagging of Indian leaders alongside the violence in Nepal indicates a desire to "create a violent environment in the country due to repeated electoral defeats."
Nirupam disclosed that he had formally contacted the Maharashtra government regarding this issue and demanded that the Shiv Sena(UBT) MP retract his statements. He warned that should Raut fail to delete his posts, he would escalate the matter to the Mumbai Police.
"This serves as proof that these individuals are attempting to concoct a conspiracy to incite unrest and violence akin to that seen in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka," Nirupam added.
"However, India remains a democratic and civilized nation. The turmoil that unfolded in Nepal can never transpire in our country," he concluded.