Being pushed to leave the Thackerays: MP Sanjay Raut in letter

MUMBAI: MP Sanjay Raut has said in an emotional letter that Shiv Sena was just like a mother to him and there was pressure on him to be dishonest to the Sena and disown the founding Thackeray family.
In the letter written to his mother sitting on a bench outside court this week, Raut mentioned he was falsely accused in the money laundering case by ED officials, the sequence of events during his arrest and the strong support she gave him. Many people have been threatened and false statements have been recorded against him, he claimed.
"Shiv Sena is mother to all of us as you are my mother. I was pressured to be dishonest with my mother. There were threats like 'don't speak against the government, it cost you heavily'. I did not buckle under these threats. I am away from you today for this one reason. Don't worry though, till the time I return, Uddhav (Thackeray) and countless Shiv Sainiks will be your sons, take care," said the letter that was posted on Twitter.
"I took lessons about Shiv Sena and self-respect from you. It was you who inculcated in us that we should never be dishonest with Shiv Sena and Balasaheb! So now the time has come to fight for those values . 'Sanjay' can't become weak; if he surrenders, what face will we show outside? Indirectly it is being suggested to leave the Thackerays... Uddhav Thackeray is my dear friend and general. If I leave them in such a difficult time, what face will I show to Balasaheb?" he wrote.