Maharashtra: Sanjay Raut’s admission & U-turn expose Uddhav Thackeray’s doublespeak

The political atmosphere in Maharashtra is currently charged with the rumblings of protest against a proposed refinery project in Barsu in the Ratnagiri district. As expected, the remaining Shiv Sena (officially Uddhav Balasheb Thackeray Shiv Sena or Shiv Sena (UBT) is at the forefront of opposing this ambitious project. However, the same Uddhav Thackeray had proposed this site for the project to none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

When this fact came to the fore, Uddhav Thackeray’s right-hand man and Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Raut, had difficulty negating the reality. He, in turn, admitted that his boss had really suggested the site, and his pitiful attempt to undo the damage only resulted in exposing the doublespeak of Uddhav Thackeray.

The soil survey work for the multi-billion-dollar project for an oil refinery at village Barsu in Ratnagiri district, around 400km from Mumbai, has begun recently. This led to protests, much of which was sponsored, from different quarters under the garb of local villagers over so-called environmental damage concerns. Opposition parties have taken the issue in their stride and urged the Government to stop soil survey work and be sensitive in handling the situation arising from the agitation. Shiv Sena (UBT) demanded an immediate end to “atrocities” on protesters.

Against the backdrop of these protests, State Industries Minister Uday Samant on Tuesday said, with documented proof, that then-CM Uddhav Thackeray suggested the current site for the mega project. Samant said that misunderstandings about the project were deliberately created for political mileage. He also slammed the “politics of double standards”.

This is an apparent jibe at former CM Uddhav Thackeray and his MLA-son Aaditya Thackeray, who handled the environment portfolio in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Government from November 2019 to June 2022. In a press conference in Nashik, Samant said, “On January 12, 2022, then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting that the State Government can make available 1,300 acres of land and another 2,144 acres of land in Natya (area) for the refinery. He suggested the Barsu site for the project.” The Minister, who was also a Minister in Thackeray’s cabinet, claimed that Uddhav Thackeray’s letter also mentioned that there are no human settlements or trees on 90 per cent of this land.

Now, Sanjay Raut admitted on Wednesday that Uddhav Thackeray, as the chief Minister of Maharashtra, had suggested an alternative site at Barsu for a refinery project. Although keeping up with his jugglery, he also said that his party would stand with locals if they opposed the project. Unable to refute the proof shown by Samant, Raut continued his rhetoric and hit back at the Industries Minister, saying, instead of flaunting the letter written by Thackeray to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting Barsu as an alternative site, he should visit the site and talk to protesters.”

According to Raut, “Uddhav Thackeray has clarified his position regarding the project and the place. We are ready to face bullets. The position (of Shiv Sena UBT) regarding both Nanar and Barsu places has been clearly stated. People were opposed to Nanar; people had come down on the road to Nanar.”

Interestingly, Raut was even ready to denounce the official Government letter saying it had zero value. He said, “There was no opposition at that time while people have come forward to protest now. So the value of that letter is zero. It is (just) a Government paper.”

Thus, in Raut’s, and consequently Thackeray’s, view, a Government paper has no value and holds value only if they occupy constitutional posts. But once they are out of power, the same paper loses all its value!

Curiously enough, it was the same Sanjay Raut who had held a press conference at Shiv Sena Bhavan in Mumbai two months ago. He had made a hue and cry about various projects going out of Maharashtra. However, when a project of such proportion coming to the state, he is at the front to oppose them. Samant briefly explained the reason behind this flip-flop. He said the project was being opposed only because Eknath Shinde, who revolted against Uddhav Thackeray, is now the Chief Minister.

Whatever the case, the only thing that comes out of all this farce is the hypocrisy and meanness of a leader whose influence is confined to Matoshree, his residential bungalow.