In an unprecedented development, Union MSMEs Minister Narayan Rane was arrested on Tuesday afternoon for his “tight slap” remark against Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray.
On Monday, the BJP Rajya Sabha member, during the Jan Aashirwad Yatra, said, “Yeh kaisa mukhya mantri hai, jisko apne desh ka swantrata diwas pata nahi... agar mai waha hota toh kaan ke neeche thappad laga deta. (It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap.)"
There were reports of clashes between Shiv Sena and BJP workers across the state. The statement rattled the Shiv Sena rank and files and also stunned the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, which had been at the receiving end of the opposition BJP.
Rane and Thackeray do not see eye to eye for nearly two decades and leave no stones unturned to target each other, however, this is for the first time things has reached this extent.
On Tuesday, at least three FIRs were lodged against Rane in Nashik, Pune and Raigad.
Condemning the arrest, BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda said: “The arrest of Narayan Rane by the Maharashtra government is unconstitutional... we will not be frightened by such arrests. The Jan Aashirwad Yatra is receiving a tremendous response. We will fight it out democratically.”
A police team led by Ratnagiri Superintendent of Police Dr Mohit Kumar Garg took custody of Rane in Sangameshwar amid protests by his two sons, -- former MP Dr Nilesh Rane and MLA Nitesh Rane -- BJP MLC Prasad Lad and Pramod Jathar.
“There is a threat to Rane saheb’s life,” claimed Lad, while the four staged a sit-in at the Sangameshwar police station.
Later Rane was shifted to Mahad in the neighbouring Raigad district.
The anticipatory bail application filed by Rane was rejected by the Ratnagiri court following which Rane’s legal team moved the Bombay High Court, which is yet to hear the petition.
Meanwhile, the Jan Aashirwad Yatra continued as per the plan.
Before his arrest, Rane denied committing any crime. “I will not comment on reports... I don’t know whether there is an FIR against me and not one has told me... I have committed any crime,” he said.
Rane also threatened action against the media if it "maligned his image."
“I am in politics for 52 years... I know the relevant sections of law and know what constitutes an offence or not... is it not a crime if someone does not know about August 15? I had said I would have slapped... these were my words and this is not a crime,” he said.
Security was been beefed up across Maharashtra on Tuesday to avoid any clashes between Shiv Sainiks and Rane’s supporters.
Rane's remarks drew sharp reactions from Shiv Sena, whose workers put several posters in Mumbai calling him a 'kombdi chor' (chicken stealer) along with his photo, a reference to the poultry shop he ran in Chembur several decades ago before he joined Shiv Sena under late supremo Balasaheb Thackeray.
Asked about the comments of Rane, senior BJP leader Pramod Jathar said: “Rane saheb has spent 40 years with Balasaheb... what Rane said is just ‘Thakeri-language’ that he has learnt.”
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