Sanjay Raut Defends Use of AI to Recreate Bal Thackeray’s Voice, Slams Critics

By A Staff Reporter

Mumbai, Maharashtra | Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has strongly defended his party’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) to recreate the voice of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray during a recent public gathering in Nashik. Raut responded to criticism from ruling party leaders who questioned the ethical and political implications of deploying such technology.

Speaking to reporters, Raut said, “The AI technique is being used across the country. The country and the world have moved far ahead. China and the U.S. are ahead of us in AI technology. Even Prime Minister Modi talks about AI. If someone used AI technology to recreate the voice of Balasaheb Thackeray, then what is wrong in it? There’s nothing wrong.”

Raut emphasized that the intention behind using AI was to pay tribute to Bal Thackeray and connect with party loyalists, not to mislead or manipulate. He also invoked Thackeray’s legacy, remarking, “It was Balasaheb Thackeray who made Maharashtra understand the meaning of the word ‘gaddar’ (traitor).”

In a sharp political jab, Raut accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of orchestrating the formation of Eknath Shinde’s breakaway Shiv Sena faction. “The party of Eknath Shinde was formed by Amit Shah. He is the party chief,” Raut alleged, doubling down on UBT Sena’s narrative of betrayal and external interference.