Sharad Pawar, Sanjay Raut get death threats; Supriya Sule seeks Amit Shah's intervention

Pawar’s daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule and nephew Ajit Pawar, who is the Leader of Opposition in Assembly, flagged the issue to Shinde and Fadnavis

In what emerged as a matter of concern amid the ongoing severe government-vs-opposition war of words, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray’s close aide Sanjay Raut has received death threats once again.

Both Pawar (82) and Raut (61) are members of the Rajya Sabha.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has asked the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government to take strict action against the threats and also asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to look into the issue.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, assured to take action.

A social media post said that “Pawar will meet the same fate as Dabholkar soon” - which was an apparent reference to the gunning down of Dr Narendra Dabholkar (67), the eminent rationalist and anti-superstition activist, and founder of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), on June 20, 2013, by two unidentified gunmen near Omkareshwar temple in Pune.

Pawar’s daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule and nephew Ajit Pawar, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, flagged the issue to Shinde and Fadnavis.

Read | Shinde says govt has taken serious note of threat to Pawar; senior cops visit NCP chief’s Pune home

“This is a serious issue…the government must find out the masterminds,” Ajit, a seven-time Baramati MLA and former Baramati MP, said.

Supriya also met Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar and apprised him of the developments.

"I received a message on WhatsApp (meant) for Pawar Saheb. He has been threatened through a website. So, I have come to the police demanding justice. I urge Maharashtra Home Minister and Union Home Minister. Such actions are low-level politics and this should stop,” she said.

Shinde said that the government has ordered a probe. “We have asked the police to probe…Pawar Saheb is a respected leader,” said Shinde.

However, he added: “…deliberate attempts are being made to create tension in the state….ever since the Supreme Court verdict, some people are upset due to attempts are being made to spoil the atmosphere by glorifying Aurangazeb and Tipu Sultan”.

“Maharashtra politics has a high tradition. Although there are differences at the political level there are no differences of opinion. Threatening any leader or overstepping the bounds of civility while expressing themselves on social media will not be tolerated…In such a case the police will definitely take action as per law,” added Fadnavis.

On his part Pawar said: “I have complete faith in the system and the capabilities of the Police, who are responsible for maintaining law and order, so I am not concerned.”

Meanwhile, Raut claimed that he and his brother and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sunil Raut too have received threats.

In a letter to Fadnavis, he said: "I had earlier informed you of the threats I received, but no action appears to have been taken...the recordings of the new threats I received have been forwarded to the Commissioner of Police in Mumbai. I am only writing this letter for your information.”

On the threats to Pawar and Raut, state Congress President Nana Patole said that the BJP knows its political situation in Maharashtra. "Through threats, they are trying to suppress the opposition and those who speak out against the BJP and its governments," he added.