After row, Sanjay Raut retracts comment on Indira-don meet

MUMBAI: Withdrawing his remarks that former prime minister Indira Gandhi had met gangster Karim Lala in Mumbai, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday said he had ‘always held Indira Gandhi and Pandit Nehru in high regard and defended them even when the Congress leaders did not.”

The Sena MP took back his comments after a furious Congress took up the issue up with Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and the BJP latching on to it to take on the ruling coalition.

Former CM Devendra Fadnavis said, “Why was Indira Gandhi coming to Mumbai? Was the underworld helping Congress win elections? Was the Mumbai underworld funding the Congress? The Congress leadership should answer these questions why are they silent on it.”


Congress leaders Milind Deora and Sanjay Nirupam also took issue with Raut over his remarks.

Raut on Thursday tried to defuse the situation by saying that Karim Lala represented the Pathan community and he along with Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan used to meet Indira Gandhi to discuss issues related to the welfare of the community. He said, “If someone feels my statement hurt Indira Gandhi's image, or someone's feelings, I take it back.”

Raut’s clarification did little to quell the Congress anger. Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat said, “We have spoken with Uddhav on the issue. The statement was wrong and should not have been made; we are angry with the remark and in future would not tolerate such remarks against our leaders.”

Aaditya Thackeray also tried to down play the issue saying that Raut and the Sena had the highest regards for Indira Gandhi. “No Shiv Sainik would speak about Indira Gandhi ji disrespectfully. Shiv Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray used to have a lot of respect for her. Raut ji spoke on the issue in a specific contex,” said Aaditya, in Mumbai.