Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has written to Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu alleging he is being harassed by central agencies because he has refused to help topple the coalition government in Maharashtra.

The Upper House member linked the alleged vindictive politics to subversion of democracy, contending the central agencies were being misused to target the BJP’s rivals and dislodge Opposition governments. He urged politicians to raise their voice and reminded them of Nazi rule, which had spared nobody after people failed to unite against injustice when there was time.

“A month ago, I was approached by certain people and was told to assist in toppling the state government. They wanted me to be instrumental in such endeavour so that the state could be forced into midterm election,” Raut wrote.

“I refused to be a party to any such clandestine agenda which was being pursued,” Raut said in the letter.
“I was warned that my refusal could lead to my paying a very heavy price. I was even told that my fate could be like that of a former Union railway minister who spent many years behind bars. I was even warned that apart from me, two other senior ministers and two senior leaders in Maharashtra would be sent behind bars under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act).”

While the Congress, NCP, Trinamul, SP, BSP and other Opposition parties too had in the past accused the Narendra Modi government of misusing its agencies to harass them, the Sena leader’s outburst has taken the matter to a different level because of the letter he has sent to the Rajya Sabha chairman.

Raut also sent copies of the letter – which came with an appeal to protect his rights as an MP --- to leaders of friendly parties such as Sharad Pawar (NCP), Rahul Gandhi (Congress), Derek O’Brien (Trinamul), Sanjay Singh (AAP), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), M. Thambidurai (AIADMK), Satish Chandra Mishra (BSP), Ram Gopal Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Manoj Jha (RJD) and K. Keshava Rao (TRS).

Raut later told the media he would not surrender to blackmail and dared the central government to do whatever it wanted. “The Mumbai office of the ED (Enforcement Directorate) is a centre of conspiracy and extortion. They are systematically targeting Opposition leaders. I will hold a media conference in front of the ED office with my supporters and expose their sinister games,” the Sena leader said.

In his letter to Naidu, Raut alleged that Sena leaders were being targeted ever since the party broke ties with the BJP and joined the Congress-NCP coalition to form the government in Maharashtra.

Raut said old land deals were being dug up to harass opponents in violation of the spirit of the law. He added that the land in question had been in the public domain all along but no questions had been asked.

He said 28 people had been picked up so far and were being pressured to give statements against him.
Raut alleged that even the decorator at his daughter’s marriage was told to “confess” they had received cash from him. Raut said some officials of the ED and other agencies had told him they had been ordered by their bosses to “fix” him.