‘Is PM Modi not under the jurisdiction of the European Commission?’: Sanjay Raut on Uddhav Thackeray’s bag check | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut accused the Election Commission of bias in its inspection procedures during election campaigns. Raut alleged that while Shiv Sena leaders face strict checks on their luggage, helicopters and private vehicles, prominent leaders of the ruling alliance appear to be evading similar checks.
Raut claimed: “Our luggage, helicopter, private jet, cars, everything is being checked. They reach our homes. We have no problem with it if it is done in an impartial manner. Where Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis are competing, they have already reached 25-25 crores. We also showed videos of 20-20 bags being brought through helicopters during the Lok Sabha elections. Our luggage is being checked, but are the helicopters and cars of Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah also being checked? Are there only clothes in their bags? Can’t the observers see the cash distribution in Maharashtra?”
“If anyone checked Prime Minister Modi’s helicopter in Odisha, that person was suspended. Does PM Modi not fall under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission? Can the Prime Minister, Prime Minister and Union Minister distribute anything to the people? What kind of impartial justice is this? he added.

This issue came to light after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray shared a similar experience on Monday. At a public meeting in Wani, Yavatmal, where he was campaigning for the November 20 assembly elections, Thackeray recounted how his own bag was inspected upon arrival.
“They reached our homes; they examine every item we transport. But will they also check the bags of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders?” he asked, questioning the impartiality of the ECI.
Thackeray’s comments came during his support for Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Sanjay Derkar, where he urged supporters and voters to “check the pockets and identity cards of officials” who conducted the searches, addressing the perceived imbalance in the enforcement emphasized. “I am not angry with the election authorities; they do their job. But I also have my responsibility,” Thackeray emphasized, calling for a level playing field.
In a video shared by Shiv Sena (UBT) on their X handle, Thackeray is seen questioning the selective control of the election officials. He asked whether they had inspected the bags containing leaders of the ruling alliance, specifically naming CM Shinde, deputy CMs Fadnavis and Pawar, as well as Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah. When officials responded that these leaders had not yet visited the region, Thackeray challenged them to inspect Modi and Shah’s bags and send a video as proof.
Thackeray also expressed frustration over what he called “undemocratic practices”, stating: “In a democracy, no one should be above scrutiny. If the Election Commission fails to check the bags of the ruling leaders, the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and MVA workers will take the responsibility themselves.”