Narayan Rane’s comments have fueled massive Shiv Sena anger and protest
Mumbai:
Union Minister Narayan Rane was arrested today on his comment On slapping Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for what he called the “ignorance of India’s independence year”. He was granted bail hours after citing his health and arguing that he had been arrested without proper notice on “politically motivated” charges.
The Union minister’s counsel said that he would have to appear before the police on August 31 and September 13. The lawyer said that if his voice sample is needed for police investigation, then seven days notice will be given. “They have also been asked not to do so in future,” the lawyer said.
Mr Rane, a BJP leader who joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet in July as Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, is the first Union minister to be arrested in 20 years.
Soon after the Bombay High Court rejected his request for an urgent hearing on his plea for protection against action, the minister was arrested while eating.
Rane’s lawyer told the court, “Police have arrived to arrest him, they are waiting at his door.” The High Court asked him to file an application, responding: “Please follow the procedure. Don’t let us do the work of the registry.”
The Chief Minister’s Shiv Sena had on Monday registered several cases against Rane over his remarks at the nationwide “Jan Ashirwad Yatra” organized by the BJP. He claimed that Mr Thackeray had forgotten the year of independence during his August 15 speech and had to check with his colleague in the middle of the speech.
Rane said, “It is shameful that the Chief Minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back during his speech to ask about the counting of the years of independence. If I had been there, I would have given him a slap, ‘ said Mr. Rane. Said in a public meeting.
The comments fueled Shiv Sena’s protest and FIRs were registered in three cities listing offenses ranging from threatening a public servant to criminal intimidation and breach of peace.
Mr Rane hit out at the media for reporting his “imminent arrest”, saying he was no ordinary person. “I have not committed any crime. You verify it and show it on TV otherwise I will file a case against you (media). Despite not committing any crime, the media is speculating about my ‘imminent’ arrest. Think I’m a normal (ordinary) guy?” He said that.
Shiv Sena alleged that former party leader Rane made the remarks intentionally to incite tension in Maharashtra. Clashes broke out this morning when Shiv Sena members, carrying flags and raising slogans, were stopped by BJP workers on their way to Rane’s house in Mumbai. Shiv Sena workers also targeted BJP offices in cities like Nashik.
BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis said he did not support Rane’s comments, but compared the police action to the Taliban.
“I want to make it clear that we do not support the remarks about the Chief Minister but we will stand by Rane with all our might. I want to tell the Commissioner of Police that if no action is taken against those who attacked our offices. If it happens, both the opposition leaders will sit on a dharna in the police commissioner’s office. There should be rule of law, not the rule of Taliban.”
Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut demanded his removal from the central government. “To influence the BJP leadership, Rane is attacking Shiv Sena and its leaders. He lost his composure after joining the Modi-led ministry. Modi should show him the door,” Raut said.
The clash between allies-turned-rival Shiv Sena and the BJP comes months ahead of the elections to Mumbai’s civic body BMC in February.
Mr Rane, 69, began his political career in the Shiv Sena, then under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray’s father Bal Thackeray. He left Shiv Sena in 2005 due to rift with the Thackeray family.
After a brief stint in the Congress, he joined the BJP in 2019.
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