"President's Rule has become a toy for the Modi-Shah govt”: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut took an aim at the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of misusing constitutional provisions for political gain. “President’s Rule has become a toy for the BJP,” asserted Raut, reacting to a plea filed in the Supreme Court seeking its imposition in the state. The Shiv Sena UBT leader’s statement comes in the wake of recent incident of communal violence in West Bengal’ Murshidabad that claimed three lives.

"President’s Rule has become a toy for the BJP," said Sanjay Raut, reacting to a plea filed in the Supreme Court seeking its imposition in West Bengal. "The TMC has a clear majority in the state. The BJP is inciting riots and then using those incidents as a pretext to impose President’s Rule. This is nothing but an attack on democracy,” he added.

The Shiv Sena UBT leader added that the imposition of President’s Rule has become a “plaything” for the Modi government. "In Maharashtra, there was no valid reason, yet President’s Rule was imposed. It has become a plaything for Modi and Shah. In Manipur, even after three year, they imposed President’s Rule. You cannot rule a state by just enforcing the President's Rule, What Rahul Gandhi said is absolutely right, everything happening in this country today is illegal. The BJP wants to bring institutions like the Election Commission, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and even the Supreme Court under its control. They bring petitions and try to pressurize the Supreme Court — but the Supreme Court will not bow to pressure,” asserted Raut.

The plea in the Supreme Court, filed by West Bengal residents Devdutta Maji and Mani Munjal, alleges that Hindus have been selectively targeted in the state in the wake of the anti Waqf Amendment Act protests. The petitioners argue that the West Bengal government has failed to maintain public order and protect the constitutional rights of its citizens. They cite incidents of violence in Murshidabad, clashes during Ram Navami in Kolkata, stone pelting during Holi in Birbhum, and unrest in Sandeshkhali.

The plea demands not only the imposition of President’s Rule but also a direction to the Union government to submit a detailed report under Article 355 of the Constitution, which obligates the Centre to safeguard states against internal disturbances.​