Garba row: Sanjay Raut backs Amruta Fadnavis, asks her to counsel ‘neo-Hindutva’ leaders

Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday backed Amruta Fadnavis for her stand that festivals should be inclusive and that there was nothing wrong with Muslims participating in celebrationsThe remarks came after the Vishva Hindu Parishad VHP announced that Muslims would not be allowed to enter garba and dandiya venues across Maharashtra during Navratri beginning October 11 BJP minister Nitesh Rane has supported the VHPs positionSpeaking to reporters in Nagpur Raut said I welcome Amruta Fadnaviss stand that Muslim women should be allowed to participate in garba But she should counsel the neoHindutva people in the chief ministers cabinetRane had alleged that love jihad cases increase during such festivals and said people who do not follow idol worship should not participate in Hindu religious events Responding to his remarks Amruta Fadnavis had said If a Muslim person also comes there and enjoys the festival properly I do not see anything wrong in itRaut cites Muslim contribution to MaharashtraRaut said Muslims had played an important role in various struggles including the movement for a united Maharashtra and Indias independence He also cited poet Amar Sheikh and others who he claimed sacrificed for the formation of MaharashtraHe said Amruta Fadnavis should counsel Devendra Fadnaviss beloved neoHindutva followers as well as the chief minister himselfBowandarrow symbol disputeOn the legal dispute over the bowandarrow election symbol Raut claimed that the symbol originally belonged to Bal Thackerays Shiv Sena and alleged that it was taken away through the Election CommissionThese people schemed and through the Election Commission stole this symbol he said referring to the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath ShindeRaut alleged that Shindes lawyers were attempting to delay the matter while claiming that his party had submitted its arguments and contentions on timeHe also backed Uddhav Thackerays demand for a quick decision on the symbol saying his party had contested the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections using what he described as a stolen bowandarrow symbolRaut raises Maratha reservation issueRaut also accused the Maharashtra government of wanting to kill Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange whose indefinite strike at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district entered its 12th day on WednesdayThe government wants to kill Jarange His fight and struggle has become a noose around the governments neck His utility is over for the government which used his struggle and indefinite hunger strikes for its own benefit during the polls It has now left him in the lurch Raut claimedHe called on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to hold discussions with leaders from all parties to find a solution to the Maratha reservation issueJarange had on Tuesday accused Fadnavis and minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil of deceiving the Maratha community over the reservation issue for more than a year As his health deteriorated he accepted IV fluids while Vikhe Patil urged him to acknowledge the governments decisions on his demandsRaut questions minorities panel appointmentRaut also questioned the appointment of Maharashtra Minorities Commission chief Pyare Khan after reports that Khan had met gangster Abu Salem in prison in NashikWasnt it this government Wasnt it the Fadnavis government Therefore this question should be asked of Devendra Fadnavis BJP state unit president Ravindra Chavan or the socalled Hindutva people working in their party Raut saidHe also questioned the governments position on whether Muslims should be allowed to attend Navratri celebrationsWith inputs from PTI