Anna Hazare must raise voice against scams in Maharashtra, country: Sanjay Raut

Sanjay Raut. File Pic

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said that anti-graft activist Anna Hazare must highlight scams across the country, including the one allegedly linked to electoral bonds, reported the PTI.

Sanjay Raut was referring to reports that said the octogenarian leader would challenge the police closure report in the alleged Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) in which Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was among the accused.

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The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said that Anna Hazare, whose anti-corruption campaign was one of the key reasons behind Congress' defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the birth of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), must protest at the Ramlila Maidan against scams in Maharashtra and country, according to the PTI.

In April, the Mumbai Police filed a closure report in the alleged Rs 25,000-crore MSCB scam, saying there was no unfair loss to the bank due to the loan given to sugar mills and other entities.

About Anna Hazare's apparent plan to challenge the closure report, Sanjay Raut said, "I am glad that Anna Hazare has woken up. I congratulate him for that. But Maharashtra has not only seen 'Shikhar' (MSCB) bank scam. The state and country have seen scams over scams," according to the PTI.

Sanjay Raut said that Hazare must also highlight the alleged Rs 10,000-crore electoral bonds scam.

"Money is being extorted by central agencies in Maharashtra and across the country and it is going to BJP's coffers," he claimed.

The Rajya Sabha MP urged Hazare to protest against the closure reports in cases involving MLAs of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Pawar's camps after they joined the BJP-led 'Mahayuti' alliance.

The opposition has accused the BJP-led Centre of weaponising federal agencies against those who speak against it.

Will decide after polls, says Sanjay Raut when asked if Uddhav would become CM

Meanwhile, Sanjay Raut on Friday said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance would take decision on the chief minister's post after the Maharashtra assembly polls.

He was responding to the question whether Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will head the government if the opposition alliance -- which includes NCP(SP) and Congress -- comes to power.

Assembly elections are due in the state in October.

"Let the elections take place. We will win the polls and then decide," Raut told reporters.

The MVA outperformed the ruling coalition of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP in the Lok Sabha elections, winning 30 of the 48 parliamentary seats in Maharashtra.

(with PTI inputs)