MUMBAI: Amid reports of Operation Tiger being underway to split the Shiv Sena (UBT), and that six Sena (UBT) MPs reached Delhi on Wednesday, the party held a press conference in Delhi with three Lok Sabha MPs: Anil Desai, Arvind Sawant, and Rajabhau Waze. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that ‘Operation Tiger’ won’t be so easy.
Raut's Allegations
Raut claimed that Maharashtra MPs were being bought and sold, and that MPs had refused to sit in chartered flights to Delhi unless they were paid Rs 15 crore as advance. He asserted that all MPs were elected on the Mashaal (flaming torch) symbol and under Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership.
Raut said in the meeting with Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday, the MPs swore in the name of their children, wives, Saibaba, Tulja Bhavani, and Balasaheb Thackeray, claiming loyalty to Uddhav Thackeray. He warned that if any of these MPs still defect, the people of Maharashtra will not remain silent. He added that those who want to go must resign and leave the party.
Press Conference Statement
“Today, Shiv Sena (UBT) group leader Arvind Sawant, chief whip Anil Desai, and Nashik MP Rajabhau Waze are with me. Since yesterday, such news or rumors have been spreading everywhere that 'Operation Tiger' is going on in Delhi. But it is not that easy to break the Shiv Sena (UBT). Basically, even those spreading these rumors have admitted that we are still 'Tigers'. We have not received any official information about any such developments. We are seeing and hearing all this through you (the media),” Raut said.
Legal Battle and Whip
Raut said the party has also started a legal battle with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and has issued a whip to all MPs for a parliamentary party meeting on Thursday. He questioned the whereabouts of MPs whose names are appearing in the media. “I don't know where exactly the MPs whose names are currently appearing in the media are. Some say they are in Delhi, some say they are in Mumbai, and some are in their constituency. All these MPs were elected on the ‘flaming torch' symbol of Sena (UBT) and on the face of Uddhav Thackeray. Earlier, when there was a split in the party, it was said that it was an outburst of the people; because they were elected by seeking votes in the name of (Narendra) Modi. The legal battle in this regard is still going on in the Supreme Court. However, now the MPs who have been elected entirely from the Shiv Sena (UBT) party, on our symbol and on the hard work of Uddhav Thackeray, have no right to commit such dishonesty,” Raut said.
Bribery Allegations
“Last night around 10:30-11 pm, I was told by a very important person that MPs from Maharashtra are being bought. He used the word 'being bought'. When I asked him what the price was? He said that the price is the same - Rs 50 crores! By tonight, Rs 15 crores must be delivered to everyone, only after that those MPs will come to Delhi. Moreover, they are not even ready to board the plane. I have conveyed this information to the public through social media. If other parties like Shiv Sena (UBT) or TMC are going to be broken in this way, then there is no point in fighting elections in this country,” Raut said.
