Mumbai, 19 June (HS): Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader

and Rajya Sabha MP, stated on Friday that the party has finished a wonderful

60-year journey despite various hurdles, betrayals, and political failures, as

he commemorated the Shiv Sena's Diamond Jubilee (Hirak Mahotsav). At a presser,

Raut referred to the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray as the true Shiv Sena,

recalling its evolution from a regional movement for Marathi rights to a

political power that reached the national capital. Today marks the 60th

anniversary of the Shiv Sena, also known as the Diamond Jubilee (Hirak

Mahotsav) of the original Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena has now been around

for 60 years, first under Balasaheb Thackeray and then under Honourable Uddhav

Thackeray, Raut stated.

He emphasized the party's history, saying, This

organisation was founded 60 years ago for the justice and rights of the Marathi

people. Back then, people mocked the Shiv Sena, claiming that it would not even

last six months. It was believed that the Shiv Sena would never expand beyond

Mumbai and Thane. All of those forecasts turned out to be wrong. The Shiv Sena

captured Mumbai, Thane, Maharashtra, and finally reached Delhi. Shiv Sena has

finished a 60-year march, he said. Raut reflected on the party's political

career, stating that every political organization undergoes highs and lows. Any political party's path has its ups and

downs. The flow might roar, come to a standstill, or become steady.

Even during the reign of Shiv Sena Pramukh Balasaheb

Thackeray, there were numerous ups and downs. Balasaheb had to deal with

several shocks. He was deceived by his own people several times, and he was

stabbed in the back. Balasaheb Thackeray would occasionally declare in

distress, There have been so many stabs delivered to my back that there

is no more space left on my back to take another blow. Raut drew

parallels with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's attempt to build Hindavi Swarajya,

claiming that internal resistance has always faced substantial hurdles. As a

result, what is going on now comes as no surprise. Shiv Sena Pramukh constantly

offered us an example: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj built Hindavi Swarajya, yet

he encountered significant opposition from his own people.

Shivaji Maharaj had to engage in at least 200 fights against

his own people. Only then was he able to complete his goal and raise his flag,

he explained. When asked about the breakup of regional parties, a Shiv Sena

(UBT) MP said that the BJP was seeking to undermine regional political

organizations. This is happening because the BJP is terrified. They don't want

any regional parties to continue working with Congress until 2029. They seek to

increase the number of Lok Sabha members and amend the Constitution. They aim

to implement a presidential system in this country. We will not let this

happen, Raut stated.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi