BJP Seeks Apology from Sanjay Raut over His Albania Remarks

The Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut, on his social media handle X made a sensational comment saying that all countries should learn a lesson from the events that are taking place in Albania, especially India. He wrote, “The people of Albania have burned down the Supreme Court. The people were enraged because the Supreme Court was helping corrupt prime ministers. The protesting public has also attacked the parliament and government offices, as well as the ministers’ homes.”

Congress leader Udit Raj expressed support for Raut’s remarks, linking the controversy to questions surrounding bail decisions.

“When bail is granted, no reasons are given, and Umar Khalid is denied bail. Bail is the rule, so why is it being denied? Why was it granted to others? There should be a speaking order,” he said.

In sharp reaction to this, the BJP on Tuesday said, “They want anarchy. First, they insulted and abused the President, then the Election Commission, and then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Now, they want the Supreme Court to be burned. The people of India will not tolerate anarchy. A contempt petition against Sanjay Raut is currently underway in the Supreme Court, and he will get his answer there,” the BJP leaders said. They also demanded an unconditional apology from the MP.

BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain accused Raut of threatening the government and the Supreme Court. “He is saying that lessons should be learned from how the Supreme Court in Albania was set on fire. What message is he trying to convey? Is he trying to threaten the Supreme Court? Uddhav Thackeray should apologise to the Supreme Court for the kind of statement Sanjay Raut has made,” he said.

Another leader, Guru Prakash Paswan, said Raut should explain if he wants the Albania situation to be an example for India. "The Congress in Kerala also tweeted, 'Remove the CJI', and we will bring in a new CJI. The country runs according to the Constitution. …There are constitutional procedures. They are trying to create an atmosphere of anarchy," he said.

Another leader, Kirit Somaiya, alleged that Raut was supporting the burning of Albania’s Supreme Court and accused him of repeatedly targeting constitutional institutions.

Shiv Sena leader Anand Dubey, responding to the controversy, invoked the occasion of Vijayadashami and said any wish to see India descend into violence and arson was unacceptable.

He said, “To those who pray or wish for India to burn, for chaos, violence, and arson to spread, or for our nation to descend into conditions like those seen in Albania, France, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or Nepal, should know that this cannot happen here; this is India,” he added.

On the other hand, addressing the RSS annual Vijayadashami Utsav in Nagpur, chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday cautioned that regime-change agitations do not resolve fundamental problems, warning that protests could become instruments of political interests and fuel divisions in society rather than delivering solutions.

Bhagwat urged political leaders, protesters and the administration to ensure that their actions did not create bitterness or divisions in society.

"However intense our emotions may be, we must respect the limits set by our Constitution, the norms of civilised public discourse and standards of decent conduct," He said the need for greater discernment among the younger generation in consuming information was necessary.

Citing recent incidents in Bangladesh, Nepal, France and Albania, Bhagwat said that subverting forces pursuing their own interests use regime change as a means to alter political circumstances, rarely achieving intended results. "They claim that changing a regime will change the situation, but that has never really happened," he said.

Bhagwat said that while some global powers want India to develop, they do not want it to become too powerful, as it could challenge their dominance, he added.

On protests in a democracy, the RSS chief said they should aim to resolve problems rather than deepen social divisions.

"Problems will remain, and protests are inevitable in a democracy. But what should protests aim to do? They should be aimed at finding solutions," he said.

He cautioned that protests could become political instruments when driven by objectives other than public welfare, fuelling hostility towards individuals, groups or ideologies

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gowri V

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A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.

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