'Modi, Shah should learn from Rahul': Sanjay Raut lauds Congress leader for accepting party's mistake in 1984 riots

Mumbai: A day after Rahul Gandhi acknowledged the wrongs committed by the Congress during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut said that the statement reflects that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha is a man with a clean heart.

Besides, Raut also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying that they should learn from Gandhi and accept mistakes.

"Gandhi is a politician with a clean heart. We have seen that he accepts his mistake. We are fortunate that such a leader is there in our country. In politics, it is a big thing to accept mistakes,” Raut said.

“Modi and Shah should learn to accept mistakes and move ahead from Rahul Gandhi,” he said.

However, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena hit out at Shinde. "Perhaps Sanjay Raut has made a mistake, as he always does, and today he made another mistake. The important thing is that if Rahul Gandhi asks for forgiveness for something that happened in 1980, it shows his immaturity,” he said.

Meanwhile, Raut also said he met NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar to present a copy of his book - Narkatala Swarg’ (Heaven in the Hell) - which is his memories on arrest by the Enforcement Directorate and days in jail before he was granted bail.

The book will be released in presence of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale.

“Pawar wanted a copy of the book…which I presented to him,” he said, adding that many issues were discussed.

“Shah is responsible for the carnage (in Pahalgam)…he should have resigned himself,” he said, adding that this was one of the reasons the Shiv Sena (UBT) did not attend the all-party meeting.

“Pawar asked why we did not come for the meeting…had we been there, we would have asked for his resignation of Shah…that would have made his (Pawar’s) position awkward,” he said, adding that there should be discussion in Parliament. “You will see then that many would ask for his resignation,” he added.

"If the time comes to give a strong response, we will definitely stand with the government,” said Raut referring to the statement of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who has repeatedly assured a strong response against Pakistan.