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Sanjay Raut gave a big statement on Sharad Pawar. He said that Sharad Pawar is a senior and respected leader but it was not appropriate to hold a party meeting in Eknath Shinde’s office. Giving such political prestige to those who toppled the government and committed ‘betrayal’ gives a wrong message. He said that if Shiv Sena’s situation was like this, it would never have held a party meeting in the premises of ‘traitors’. However, Sanjay Raut clarified that he is confident that Sharad Pawar will not join NDA and he has no doubt on his ideology.

In fact, Sharad Pawar had met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the Vidhan Bhawan complex on Wednesday (July 8). Sharad Pawar had reached the Legislature complex to attend the meeting of the high-level committee constituted by the state government on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute. Deputy CM’s office said that Sharad Pawar met Shinde in his chamber as a courtesy call. Sanjay Raut also raised questions regarding the meeting held on the border dispute and said that all the concerned parties were not taken into confidence.

Sharad Pawar is definitely a big and respected leader. But going and holding a meeting in the office of those who toppled his government reduces the credibility of any big leader.

We respect Sharad Pawar, but it is not appropriate to hold a meeting in the office of Eknath Shinde, who started corruption and betrayal in Maharashtra politics. There were many other places available like Vidhan Bhawan, Nationalist Bhawan or Yashwantrao Chavan Pratisthan. This is not only my opinion but also that of a loyal worker.

We will never go to the offices of traitors and hold our party meetings. For us, betrayal is betrayal. If someone finds it appropriate to do so then he should do so, but we do not accept this. This has affected the credibility of the Nationalist Congress Party.

If we were in his place, we would not have gone to Ajit Pawar’s office and held a party meeting. We should have remembered those who were dishonest with Sharad Pawar. All the components of Mahavikas Aghadi should also follow this decorum.

It is not wrong to have a senior leader like Sharad Pawar. The meeting held on the border dispute was important, but what was discussed in it was not revealed. Why were major parties like Shiv Sena not called on this issue? The case has been pending in the Supreme Court for years. Information about what is the role of the government and what is its future strategy should be made public.

What Sharad Pawar should do in Vidhan Bhavan is a matter for his party. But holding a party meeting in Eknath Shinde’s office is going to hurt the sentiments of Shiv Sena.

I am confident that Sharad Pawar will not go with NDA. I have written the same in ‘Saamna’ also. I have no doubt about his ideology, because I know him very closely.

But Shiv Sena is uncomfortable with his action yesterday. There was no need for this. If you are giving respect to traitors, then your moral right to speak on the betrayal in your party also weakens.

What happened under the leadership of Ajit Pawar, we consider not rebellion but betrayal. When you are fighting in the court against the same betrayal, then why are you giving respect to those people? Is Eknath Shinde a leader like Yashwantrao Chavan, Shankarrao Chavan, Vasantdada Patil, Vasantrao Naik, Vilasrao Deshmukh or Manohar Joshi that a meeting should be held in his office?

We take this matter to heart. We have good relations with Sharad Pawar, but our party’s stand on this issue is clear, betrayal is betrayal.

I had given a similar reaction on the betrayal in Mamata Banerjee’s party. If big leaders keep giving respect to traitors, the image of Maharashtra politics will be tarnished.

I can talk openly to Sharad Pawar anytime. There is personal affection between us, but at the party level this is a very serious matter. We will never give respect to those who betrayed you, nor will we go to their office and hold our party meetings.