The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday launched a fierce counterattack against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut after he compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and called him an 'aghori'. The ruling party asserted that Raut's comments reflected the growing frustration within the opposition and accused him of insulting not only the prime minister but also the people of Gujarat by labeling it the 'land of Aurangzeb'.
Raut's Sharp Attack on Modi
The controversy erupted when Raut, addressing reporters in Pune, delivered one of his most scathing critiques of Modi, questioning his character and accusing him of cruelty. 'Never before has such an aghori person been born in this country's politics. Never before has someone so cruel emerged,' Raut said. He listed prominent Indian leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, P V Narasimha Rao, Rajiv Gandhi, Babasaheb Ambedkar, and Balasaheb Thackeray, contrasting them with Modi. 'When we look at Modi's entire character, it creates fear. Where has such a person come from?' he asked. Raut further claimed, 'He comes from the same soil that produced Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb was born in Gujarat, wasn't he?'
BJP's Strong Rebuttal
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla swiftly condemned the remarks, accusing the opposition of crossing all boundaries of political discourse. 'They have reached new levels of frustration and are now not only abusing Prime Minister Modi and a constitutional office, but also insulting the entire state of Gujarat,' Poonawalla stated in a video message. He alleged that the Congress and its allies have repeatedly targeted Modi with abusive language due to their inability to find substantive issues to challenge him on. 'The Congress party and its allies have crossed the line. Rahul Gandhi has used the choicest words against Prime Minister Modi. They have hurled over 150 abusive words against the prime minister. Now, Congress ally Sanjay Raut has used the choicest abuses against the prime minister. He has gone even further and insulted the state of Gujarat, saying it is the land of Aurangzeb. This shows their mindset,' Poonawalla added.
Political Desperation Alleged
Poonawalla argued that the opposition's repeated personal attacks stem from political desperation. 'They continue to use such language because they do not have any real criticism against the prime minister. Therefore, they constantly resort to abuse. The people of India will make them pay a price yet again,' he said. The BJP leader also accused opposition parties of disrespecting constitutional institutions and offices. 'In their opposition to Modi and the BJP, they can insult constitutional offices. They abuse the president and the elected prime minister because he comes from an OBC family and because he comes from a tea-seller's family. They keep using the worst kind of language and then claim to represent love. In reality, they do not represent love, they represent abuse and insults. This abusive politics has led to their defeat election after election. Yet they do not improve,' he remarked.
Political Context and Speculations
Raut's comments come at a politically sensitive time for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), which faces increasing speculation over potential defections within its ranks. According to NDA sources, the party is among those being closely monitored for a possible split. Such discussions have persisted since the Mahayuti alliance's sweeping victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections but have gained fresh momentum in recent weeks. The party currently has nine MPs in the Lok Sabha. Under the anti-defection law, at least six MPs would need to move together to another party to avoid disqualification. Sources indicated that if such a development occurs, the most likely destination would be the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The speculation has further intensified following the rebellion within the Trinamool Congress, where a dissident faction has openly challenged Mamata Banerjee's leadership and signaled support for the PM Modi-led NDA.
