Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has written to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres seeking the declaration of June 20 as World Traitors Day. The day marks the anniversary of 40 legislators leaving the original Shiv Sena party in 2022, with each of them reportedly taking Rs 50 crore to defect to the Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP allegedly used all its resources to ensure the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra led by Uddhav Thackeray fell. The 40 MLAs who betrayed Thackeray, led by Eknath Shinde, who is now Chief Minister, and 10 independent legislators, deserted Thackeray while he was undergoing surgeries in November 2021.
This is the first time that an Indian state’s political matter has gone to the table of the world body. Raut has called for dedicating a day in the international calendar to remember turncoats, back-stabbers or deserters. BJP MLA Nitesh Rane countered Raut’s request by proposing that June 27 should be proclaimed as a ‘World Anti-Nationals Day’ and he plans to write to the UN for the same.
The ruling Shiv Sena said it will mark June 20 as ‘self-respect day’ or ‘pride day’, while the Shinde group plans to float a new party. The Shiv Sena and the Shiv Sena (UBT) celebrated their foundation days on June 19. Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde took digs at each other during the celebrations, suggesting that the group may split up.
