Mumbai, July 9 (IANS) Maharashtra Transport Minister and Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik on Thursday remarked that there is nothing wrong if Shiv Sena-UBT Chief Uddhav Thackeray, party leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut “are seen travelling together in Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s car anytime soon”.

Speaking to IANS, Pratap Sarnaik said: “If tomorrow, Sanjay Raut, Aaditya Thackeray, or Uddhav Thackeray were to travel in Eknath Shinde’s car, it should not be viewed as something wrong. I have always maintained that in politics, no one is a permanent enemy and neither a permanent friend.”

The Maharashtra Minister lashed out at Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut after he attacked the NCP-SP Chief Sharad Pawar for meeting Deputy CM Shinde at the latter’s chamber at the Vidhan Bhavan, accusing senior leaders of conferring legitimacy on “traitors”.

Pratap Sarnaik said: “I feel that Sanjay Raut has a very narrow outlook. The reality is that in politics, no one is a 100 per cent enemy or a 100 per cent friend. Sanjay Raut should not have viewed the situation in that manner. Pawar has respect and affection for Eknath Shinde, and he considers him a good colleague.”

“He (Pawar) believes that it is important to maintain cordial relations and treat one another with respect and so he felt like meeting Eknath Shinde in his cabin,” the Transport Minister added.

The Minister also said that as soon as Ekanth Shinde got to know that Sharad Pawar had come to meet him, he immediately left the ongoing Cabinet meeting to see him, in a sign of respect, and post that returned to the meeting.

“It is the cordial relation between the two leaders,” he added.

Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande also criticised Sanjay Raut over his statement, saying: “Who is Sanjay Raut to advise Sharad Pawar, Sharad Pawar is a veteran politician. He knows whom to meet, when to meet and why to meet them. Is he supposed to seek Sanjay Raut’s permission before doing anything?”

Taking a jibe at Raut, Kayande said: “The stomach pain that Sanjay Raut wakes up with every morning will one day surely be treated by Eknath Shinde.”

–IANS

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