From Proposal To Opposition: Shiv Sena UBT's Sanjay Raut Admits Uddhav Thackeray Suggested Refinery Site To PM

Today, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut admitted that as Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had proposed the Barsu site in coastal Ratnagiri district for a refinery project. However, if the locals oppose it, his party will support their stance.

Raut, while talking to the reporters, responded to Industries Minister Uday Samant and advised him to visit the site and converse with protestors instead of "showing off" the letter written by Uddhav Thackeray to Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposing Barsu as an alternative site.

On Tuesday, Samant accused political figures of intentionally creating misunderstandings about the project to gain political advantage and criticised what he called the "politics of double standards."

This was seen as a reference to Uddhav Thackeray and his MLA-son Aaditya Thackeray, who were responsible for the environment portfolio during the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government from November 2019 to June 2022.

"Nanar (site) was opposed by locals and then he (Thackeray) suggested that Barsu could be an alternative place. It is scrubland and that is right. But if locals oppose it, then Shiv Sena (UBT) will not back the project. This is our political stand," Raut said, reported PTI.

"As chief minister, he (Thackeray) suggested an alternative land. At that time there must have been no opposition (in Barsu). But now people are opposing this. If they (locals) are of the opinion that they will die but won't give their land, then the letter (by Thackeray to PM Modi) counts no value to us," Raut said.

According to an official statement, a protest against the proposed petroleum refinery led to the arrest of 111 individuals, with the majority of them being women, by the Ratnagiri police on Tuesday.

Around 100 women, together with other protesters, attempted to stop government vehicles from entering the proposed refinery site, by laying on the ground to block the road. This incident took place in the Barsu and Solgaon areas of the district, which are located roughly 400km from Mumbai.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday also decided to launch an agitation against the proposed oil refinery at Barsu amid the protests.