Rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Dina Patel, who recently crossed over to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, was caught in the eye of another political storm on Thursday when he threatened journalists and hurled insults at them.
Patel’s fresh anger came hours after Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut posted a letter he wrote to Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharati asking police to investigate his on-camera claims that he had allegedly bragged about killing five people in the past and threatened to bomb people who dared to protest against him.
In his letter, Sanjay Raut also asked the police to file a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and arrest Patel.
Asked about Sanjay Raut’s letter, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the police will definitely look into the letter if someone is issuing threats.
A reporter also asked Patel to comment on the letter against him.
“I told you I would only speak for two minutes. Why do you ask again and again? I will forget that I am an MP. If you come to react again, I will hit you. I am speaking this in front of the police and in front of the camera. Go and show it to the (police) commissioner.” Patel, MP from Mumbai’s northeast, told reporters:
As a new controversy erupted over the MP’s remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Eknath Shinde tried to do damage control.
The Shiv Sena chief said Patel phoned him and made it clear that he did not intend to threaten any journalist.
“Sanjay Patel told me that he had no intention of insulting or threatening the journalist and was ready to issue an apology. As far as the party is concerned, we did not support the wrong language with the journalist. Our elected representatives and media worked together,” Shinde said.
In his initial statement after joining the Shinde-led Shiv Sena party on Monday, the agency said, Sanjay Patel told the media that when his father Dina Patel (former Congress MLA) was attacked, they killed five people, without elaborating further. This statement appeared to be in response to Sanjay Raut’s call for ‘Operation Todva’ (beating) after the six MPs walked out when Raut used insults against Patil.
