“Politically motivated”: Sanjay Raut slams allegations on Bal Thackeray’s fingerprints being taken post demise

Lashing out at Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam who made sensational allegations that Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray’s body was kept at his Bandra East ‘Matoshree’ residence for two days after his death and his fingerprints were taken, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and chief party spokesperson Sanjay Raut has called the remarks “baseless and politically motivated”.

Kadam, who used to be environment minister when Shinde was Maharashtra Chief Minister, has worked with the undivided Shiv Sena since its inception for 50 years and is known as an old time associate of late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.

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Kadam made the controversial statement on Thursday during the Dussehra rally, organised by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena at NESCO Bombay Exhibition Centre at Goregaon East.

“Uddhav Thackeray has no right to invoke Balasaheb’s name. I want to ask, when did Balasaheb (Bal Thackeray) die? Why was his body kept at Matoshree for two days after that? You can check with his doctor even today. I am making this statement with responsibility. There were reports that his fingerprints were taken. Who wrote Balasaheb’s will? When was it written and who signed it? Why was that done? Why did Uddhav Thackeray keep the body of the Shiv Sena chief for two days? What was going on inside Matoshree? I was sleeping on the bench outside Matoshree for 8 days. So I knew everything,” Kadam said.

He also alleged that after Bal Thackeray’s death in 2012, all senior Shiv Sena leaders were “finished off”, including former Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, Gajanan Kirtikar, Diwakar Raote and Ramdas Kadam himself, following which Eknath Shinde was made a target.

Responding to the lallegations, Raut accused Kadam of lowering the dignity of Dussehra rallies, dismissing his claims as “an insult to Balasaheb Thackeray’s memory”.

“Someone has stuffed filth into Ramdas Kadam’s mouth and now it has come out. I was at Matoshree (Bandra East residence of the late Balasaheb Thackeray) till the very end of Balasaheb’s illness. It has been more than a decade since his passing and now, as we approach his centenary year, making such remarks is nothing short of dishonouring Balasaheb. This is absolute dishonesty,” Sanjay Raut said, on Friday.

“Such claims are baseless and politically motivated. Balasaheb’s contribution to Maharashtra and to Hindutva is unparalleled. Those trying to malign his memory are insulting the entire Shiv Sena tradition,” Sanjay Raut said.

However, on Friday, Kadam issued another statement, standing by the allegations he made a day prior.

“Why does a person like me, who has stayed at Matoshree, talk like this? Uddhav Thackeray should introspect about this. I am challenging Uddhav Thackeray today to prove that I am lying. If you have the courage, speak in this regard, then I will answer you. Balasaheb Thackeray is our god. Even today, when I sit for puja, I think of Balasaheb Thackeray. So why does a person like me have to talk like this? Uddhav Thackeray should come before me and tell me on my face that nothing like this ever happened,” he reiterated.

“Uddhav Thackeray has a habit of firing a gun from somebody else’s shoulder. Uddhav Thackeray is not what he seems to be. He is a hypocrite. I am saying this once again responsibly that Uddhav Thackeray kept Balasaheb Thackeray’s body for two days after he died. Do a narco test on me and Uddhav Thackeray to verify this. Let the people of Maharashtra know what the reality is. Nobody had entry to Matoshree (the late Bal Thackeray’s residence at Bandra East) for two days. Only doctors give information in such cases. But I was asked to give information about Balasaheb Thackeray’s demise. I am not a coward, but I agree that I did not speak about this matter for so long. Let the people of Maharashtra know that Uddhav Thackeray is wearing a tiger skin mask but he is not a tiger. That is why I spoke about it,” he said on Friday.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena differed in their reactions about Kadam’s allegations against Uddhav Thackeray.

Reacting to Kadam’s allegations, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s son and Shinde Sena Lok Sabha MP Shrikant Shinde said, “Ramdas Kadam has been working since the inception of the Shiv Sena. Everyone should take what he says seriously.”

Shinde Sena leader and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said, “Ramdas Kadam’s statement should be taken seriously. He was a very close old associate of Balasaheb Thackeray. He was with Balasaheb for more than 50 years. Therefore, the possibility of some truth in the statement he made cannot be ruled out. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde should investigate it.”

“This is a very sensational statement. If something like this has not come out about his death till now, it is serious. Ramdas Kadam was an important leader in the inner circle of the undivided Shiv Sena at that time. So it is necessary to go deeper into it,” Mining Minister and Shinde Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai said.

School Education Minister and Shinde Sena leader Dada Bhuse said, “I think it is his opinion and you must talk to him about it. I don’t know anything about it”.

“At that time, Ramdas Kadam was active when all those events took place. I was in the rural areas. The information that he knows, did not reach me. He has disclosed it now, but I don’t know anything about it. I was an ordinary party worker at that time,” Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Gulabrao Patil, who is a Shinde Sena leader, said.

Deputy Chairperson of Maharashtra Legislative Council and Shinde Sena leader Neelam Gorhe said, “Whatever happens inside the walls of ‘Matoshree’ was never discussed before. We were shocked when Balasaheb died, but the statement made by Ramdas Kadam should be taken very seriously. Many questions have been raised about it. If such things have happened, then it is painful. Ramdas Kadam is a senior leader. If he is saying all this, then there must be truth in it. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde will do whatever he thinks is right in this regard.”