The Free Press Journal

Nobody enjoys special rights in democracy: Raut

- STAFF REPORTER Mumbai

In the wake of BJP's protest against the Mumbai Police recording former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's statement in a case of alleged illegal tapping of phones, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday asked why do “some people and political parties” think of themselves as above the law and why “drama” was being staged. Raut in a post on Twitter claimed earlier that the Central agencies summoned several Maharashtr­a ministers and public representa­tives for probe into some cases out of “political vendetta”. There are no special rights for anyone in democracy and all are equal before the law, said the Rajya Sabha member and Shiv Sena's chief spokespers­on, whose party shares power with the NCP and Congress in

Maharashtr­a. A team of the BKC Cyber Police on Sunday reached Fadnavis's residence to record his statement in connection with the phone tapping case.

The police had issued a notice to Fadnavis in this connection and BJP workers in parts of Mumbai and rest of Maharashtr­a on Sunday staged protest and

burnt copies of the notice.

A number of BJP leaders, including MLA Nitesh Rane, MLCs Prasad Lad and Pravin Darekar, also gathered outside Fadnavis's residence in south Mumbai. “Why do some people and political parties think of themselves as being above the law? The Central agencies summoned several ministers and public representa­tives in Maharashtr­a for probe out of political vendetta and they appeared before the agencies... No one has special rights in democracy. All are equal before the law. Why this drama then?” Raut asked in a tweet in Marathi.

Maharashtr­a minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray targeted the BJP, claiming the Maha Vikas Aghadi government does not use its agencies against opponents as “campaign machinerie­s” like the Centre does. “We just take forward the legal process. I don't want to comment more about it,” Thackeray said when asked about instances of complaints being filed against each other by the ruling and opposition parties in Maharashtr­a. He also claimed that the BJP was “frustrated”, hence staging protests on various issues.

 ?? PIC: BHUSHAN KOYANDE ?? Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut addressing a press conference at Shiv Sena Bhavan recently.
PIC: BHUSHAN KOYANDE Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut addressing a press conference at Shiv Sena Bhavan recently.

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