Is Raut's Savarkar comment Sena's official stand? Chavan

Maharashtra PWD minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Saturday sought to kw wher Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut's statement that those opposing Bharat Ratna for V D Savarkar must spend two days in Andaman's infamous Cellular Jail, was official stand of Sena.

Speaking to reporters earlier in day, Raut had said "Savarkar's opponents should spend two days in (erstwhile) Andaman Cellular Jail to understand hardships he was put through by British".

Within hours of statement, Congress hit back with its state spokesperson Sachin Sawant tweeting "Savarkar was different before 1911. Congress is against his post- 1923 ideology."

Speaking to reporters amid row, Chavan said it needed to ascertained if Raut's statement was official line of Shiv Sena.

"(Sena leader) Aaditya Thackeray has already reacted to Raut's remarks stating he was t aware in which capacity Raut had made remarks that those who oppose Bharat Ratna to Savarkar be sent to Andaman jail," Chavan told reporters.

former chief minister said Congress stand on issue is kwn, "but it is t kwn wher Raut's comments were Shiv Sena's stand".

"Somebody's personal comments cant be stand of government. re is need to give a reaction to somebody's personal comments," Chavan added.

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He said Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government, formed by Sena, NCP and Congress, works on a common minimum programme and all parties would continue to stick to it.

Queried on nightlife policy espoused by state tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray, Chavan said it was a "test case", adding that Mumbai was an international city with global potential.

Thackeray on Saturday said shops, malls and eateries in n-residential areas of Mumbai will have option of remaining open 24x7 from January 26, although it will t be made compulsory.

"This is a test case. Mumbai is an international city of global potential. We need to get more tourists and improve trade and commerce. This will be implemented on an experimental basis. If new issues come up and policy of shops, establishments and malls being open 24/7 is implemented well, re is harm in continuing with it. Lets see response. If things work out, it is good," Chavan said.

Asked about Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's opposition to proposed Mumbai-Pune hyperloop project, Chavan said state could do without experiments.

"We do t want experiments. Maharashtra does t have money to carry out experiments. We don't need a bullet train eir. Our priority should be to efficiently run local trains," Chavan said.

Meanwhile, Chavan himself pulled down an illegal banner put up by a Congress worker in his home town Nanded. banner with Chavan's photograph was put up in violation of orders of local civic body.

"I will t allow illegal banners to come up in city. Due to such illegal banners, city's landscape is defaced," former MP said.

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