Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday urged parties that had broken away from the Congress to come together again, saying the Congress needed to be strengthened to fight the BJP. Rejecting Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ recent remark that the Congress was a “sinking ship”, Raut said the party remained an important political force.”Even today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is afraid of the Congress. Congress was never a sinking ship,” Raut told reporters.Calling for opposition unity, the Rajya Sabha MP appealed to NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar to lead efforts to bring former Congress allies and leaders back under one umbrella.”If we truly want to fight against the perverted politics of the BJP, everyone must unite. The Congress party must become stronger. All the leaders who had left the Congress should first come together. If senior leader Sharad Pawar takes an initiative, it would be possible. We are a regional party and we will stand with you,” he said.Raut’s remarks came a day after Fadnavis said that a sensible person would not board what he called a sinking Congress ship.This is not the first time the Sena (UBT) leader has made such remarks. Earlier this week, he had said that parties such as the TMC and NCP (SP), which have their roots in the Congress, should reunite with the grand old party, calling it the “need of the hour”. Raut also launched a sharp attack on the BJP, questioning its contribution to key moments in the country’s history.”Show even one per cent of the work that the BJP has actually done. They were neither part of the freedom struggle, nor did they take part in the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement. They were nowhere during these movements. These are cowardly people,” he said.Asked about reports of dissatisfaction among Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs amid talk of ‘Operation Tiger’, Raut accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of repeatedly engaging in attempts to break opposition parties.”Operation Tiger has been carried out by Union Home Minister Amit Shah a hundred times. Breaking political parties and their leaders demonstrates perversion of democracy,” he said.He further added, “This perversion has reached its peak under the current BJP leadership. However, it will also end one day. There will be a revolt against this kind of perversion in both the state and the country.”‘Operation Tiger’ refers to an alleged political strategy and series of manoeuvres reportedly led by the ruling Shiv Sena to attract leaders from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).Raut also criticised the functioning of institutions and accused the Union home minister of focusing on issues unrelated to national security.”The Union home minister remains occupied with matters other than national security. Judges go to London for what appears to be a picnic. The Election Commission (EC) functions like an agent of the BJP,” he said.The Sena (UBT) spokesperson further targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as an “aghori” and cruel figure in politics. “Never before has such an ‘aghori’ person been born in this country’s politics. Never before has someone so cruel emerged. This country has produced great leaders, such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, P V Narasimha Rao, Rajiv Gandhi, Babasaheb Ambedkar and Balasaheb Thackeray,” he said.
