Disgruntled Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde today alleged that the Maharashtra government has withdrawn the security provided at the residences of 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, including himself, and termed the action as “political vendetta”.
Shinde tweeted a letter addressed to Thackeray, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, Director General of Police (DGP) Rajneesh Seth and all police commissioners, Shinde accused the MLAs of withdrawing the security cover from the family members.
In the letter, the MLAs said that CM Thackeray and the leaders of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance will be responsible if their family members suffer any loss. In his tweet, Shinde alleged that on the orders of Thackeray and Walse Patil, the security of 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs was withdrawn due to “political vendetta”. “It is the responsibility of the government to protect these MLAs,” he said.
In the letter, the MLAs have demanded that their security be restored. “If our family members suffer, the chief minister, leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government like Sharad Pawar, Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray will be held responsible,” the letter said.
However, the Maharashtra government has refused to issue any such order. “Neither the Chief Minister nor the Home Department has ordered withdrawal of security of any MLA. The allegations being made through Twitter are false and completely baseless,” said Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil.
Responding to Shinde’s letter, Raut said, “You are an MLA, so you have been provided security. Your family members cannot be provided this.”
The MVA government is facing an existential crisis as most of the Shiv Sena MLAs have shifted their loyalty to Shinde and are camping in Guwahati.