May rethink over Delimitation Bill if Opposition's amendments incorporated: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena UBT Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday said the Opposition would oppose the proposed Delimitation Bill in its current form but could reconsider its stand if the Centre accepts amendments suggested by Opposition partiesSpeaking to reporters in Nagpur ahead of the Shiv Sena UBTs Ram Raksha Andolan scheduled for July 18 Raut said the Opposition INDIA bloc would take a collective decision once the legislation is formally introduced in ParliamentThe Centre is expected to introduce the Constitution 131st Amendment Bill during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning July 20 The proposed legislation seeks to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha to 850 seats and initiate a fresh delimitation exerciseRaut responds to Supriya Sules remarksRauts comments came a day after NCP SP working president Supriya Sule said there would be little reason to oppose the Delimitation Bill if it provides for a uniform 50 per cent increase in parliamentary seats across all states She had however clarified that any decision would be taken only after discussions within the INDIA blocResponding to her remarks Raut said no final decision had been taken as the bill had not yet been introducedWhen the bill does come we will all sit down and decide and a collective decision will be taken about what to doHe added that the Opposition would oppose the proposed legislation but remained open to reviewing its position if the government incorporated amendments suggested by Opposition partiesRam Raksha Andolan and Fadnavis remarksRaut also responded to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticism of the Shiv Sena UBTs proposed Ram Raksha Andolan Fadnavis had earlier remarked that staging such a protest without knowledge of the Ram Raksha hymn was inappropriateRejecting the criticism Raut said the central issue was the alleged embezzlement of donations collected at the Ram Temple in AyodhyaWhether we want to recite Ram Raksha how we want to recite we will look at thatdo not tell us that The question for you Fadnavis is a theft occurred at the Ram Temple and a donation box of Rs 550 crore was stolen In the last 12 years nearly Rs 13000 crore have been looted do you accept that or not he askedThey dont answer these questions Whether we know Ram Raksha or not we will show it to you But can you speak about your people who were involved in the theft at the Ram Temple Raut questionedHe added that the party had invited Fadnavis to attend the protest because it was being organised close to the Chief Ministers residence in NagpurWe will also invite RSS officebearers and other Hindutvawadi organisations Raut saidRaut dismisses speculation over Opposition unityAsked about reports of NCP SP leader Jayant Patils meeting with Chief Minister Fadnavis and speculation about the party joining the BJPled Mahayuti alliance Raut dismissed the claimsAccording to Raut Patil had met the Chief Minister regarding issues related to his constituency and there was no political significance attached to the meetingHe also alleged that rumours about divisions within the Shiv Sena UBT and the NCP SP were being spread to divert attention from key public issuesRaut added that he had spoken with Supriya Sule and said she would clarify her remarks during a press conference later in the dayExpresses concern over Sonam Wangchuks healthDuring the interaction Raut also expressed concern over the health of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk who is on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New DelhiHis health is deteriorating and it should be an issue of grave concern for everyone he saidWangchuk joined the ongoing protest on June 28 and has remained on an indefinite fast while pressing for his demands His health has recently become the subject of judicial attention with the Delhi High Court directing authorities to conduct daily medical monitoring during the course of his hunger strikeWith inputs from PTI