BJP spreading false narrative over 'shakti' remark: Sanjay Raut in weekly column

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed the BJP was spreading a false narrative against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi while targeting him over his "shakti" remark.

In his weekly column 'Rokhthok' in the party mouthpiece Saamana, Raut said during his Mumbai rally, Rahul Gandhi had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is just a mask and the Opposition has to fight the shakti (power) behind it.

"Rahul Gandhi meant dhan shakti (money power) against which the Opposition has to fight. PM Modi immediately said this was an attack on Hindutva and women power. People who consider themselves as the avatar of Lord Vishnu were shocked by Rahul Gandhi's shakti attack and started spreading a false narrative against him. There is also a shakti behind this false propaganda machinery," the Rajya Sabha MP claimed. "The BJP has become a mental health patient."

Raut also wondered why a hospital whose income is generated from patients should purchase electoral bonds. "The Yashoda Super Specialty Hospital purchased Rs 162 crore in electoral bonds from October 2021 to October 2023. Which party can accept bonds from a hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic? Agencies involved in conducting the probe into the jumbo Covid-19 centre and khichdi cases should investigate the link between the hospital and the BJP," he said.

The Enforcement Directorate has been conducting a probe into alleged irregularities in the setting up of jumbo Covid-19 treatment facilities in Mumbai under the Uddhav Thackeray regime. The ED is also conducting a probe into alleged irregularities in a contract given by the Mumbai civic body for providing khichdi (kedgeree) packets to migrant workers stranded in the city during the Covid-19 pandemic.