Under pressure, Raut expresses regret over cartoon row

Earlier, he refused to apologise for the controversial cartoon saying there was no reason for him to do so

A day after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray apologised to the Maratha community for publishing a controversial cartoon in party mouthpiece Saamana, Sanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha MP, who is also the editor of the newspaper, on Sunday issued regret for the same.

HT File Photo

In a release, Raut said they have always followed the ideas of Maratha warrior king Shivaji and did not need to convince anyone on that front. The cartoon was not a deliberate attempt, but a pure mistake, he said.

“Don’t want to hurt anyone’s [Maratha community] sentiments, neither was it my any intention to insult anyone. I am a hardcore soldier of Balasaheb Thackeray, (founder chief of Shiv Sena) and in my entire career, not a single incident has occurred in which I was found guilty for insulting a community, especially mothers and sisters. Hence, if the Maratha community and especially mothers and sisters are insulted because of the cartoon, then I express my regret,” Raut remarked.

Earlier, he refused to apologise for the controversial cartoon saying there was no reason for him to do so, adding that Saamana cartoonist Shrinivas Prabhudesai had already apologised for the cartoon.

Both Thackeray and Raut have been under pressure with leaders across political parties for the cartoon that ridiculed the ongoing Maratha protests, playing on the words ‘mukh morcha’ (silent protests) as ‘mukka morcha’ or kissing protests.