MLA Rajesh More warns Sanjay Raut over remarks on Anand Dighe; Shiv Sainiks protest in Kalyan-Dombivli

KALYAN: Shiv Sainiks staged protests in Kalyan-Dombivli and Ulhasnagar on Friday against remarks made by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut about late leader Anand Dighe.During the demonstration in Dombivli, Shiv Sena MLA Rajesh More made a controversial statement, warning that if Raut continued to make such comments about Dighe, Shiv Sainiks would storm into his home and “teach him a lesson.

” In Kalyan, the protest was led by City President Nilesh Shinde. Workers led by Mahesh Gaikwad also burnt an effigy of Raut, expressing anger over his alleged disparaging remarks.Anand Dighe, a towering figure in Thane district politics, is regarded as the political mentor of Maharashtra deputy chief Minister Eknath Shinde.The controversy erupted after Raut reacted to a newspaper advertisement issued by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.

The advertisement carried a small photo of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray alongside a photo of Anand Dighe.Calling Dighe a “dear colleague,” Raut said that while Dighe commanded respect, he was not even a deputy leader of the party. He further questioned whether the Shinde faction was attempting to equate Dighe with Bal Thackeray — a comment that sparked the protests.