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Tag: BJP

  • Turncoats in BJP defend Narayan Rane, seniors distance themselves from ‘slap Uddhav’ comment

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI:  On a day marred by protests and exchange of barbs, senior BJP leaders sought to distance themselves from Union minister Narayan Rane’s controversial statement against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, but said his arrest was an attack on democracy and Constitutional propriety. 

    While it was the turncoats who first jumped into Rane’s support, senior leaders later joined them. BJP MLA Ram Kadam was one of the first to defend Rane, followed by BJP MLC Prasad Lad.

    While Kadam was earlier in the MNS, Lad came from NCP. Both vociferously defended the Union minister, claiming Shiv Sena was targeting him.

    Later, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil said while he did not support Rane’s remark, the police could not arrest him. Leader of Opposition of Devendra Fadnavis was the last to address a press conference in support of Rane, but he,too, did not defend his statement. Fadnavis said people should refrain from making such remarks against anyone.

    The old guard of the BJP kept away from the controversy. However, soon after he was arrested, BJP president J P Nadda tweeted in support of Rane, while BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra criticised the Maha Vikas Aghadi, claiming Rane’s arrest was an attack on democracy and Constitution. Meanwhile, Fadnavis said despite Rane’s arrest, BJP’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra will continue with others leading it.

    The magistrate’s court denied the police’s request for Rane’s custody, but asked Rane to attend the Mahad police station on two days.

    The BJP leader had said during the Jan Ashirwad Yatra of his party on Monday that he would have slapped Thackeray over the latter’s `ignorance’ of the year of India’s independence.

    “Satyamev Jayate” (truth always prevails), Rane tweeted after getting bail and on his way back to Mumbai.

    After his arrest on Tuesday afternoon, Rane was taken to Mahad in Raigad district, 165 km from Mumbai, where an FIR was registered against him over the remark.

    Cases were registered against him at Nashik and Pune too as the remark set off angry protests by workers of the ruling Shiv Sena.

    Rane was taken into custody at Golwali, the ancestral village of former RSS chief Sadashivrao Golwalkar ‘Guruji’ in Ratnagiri district.

    He was then handed over to Raigad police around 2.45 pm in connection with the FIR registered at Mahad.

    The case at Mahad was registered under IPC sections 189 (threat of injury to public servant), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of public peace), and 505 (statements conducive to public mischief).

    At the Mahad court, Government pleader Bhushan Salvi sought seven-day police custody for the BJP leader.

    It was important to investigate if there was a conspiracy to tarnish the reputation of the chief minister, he said.

    Opposing the application, Rane’s lawyers Aniket Nikam and Bhau Salunkhe argued that his health condition was serious as he was 69 years old and suffered from sugar and blood pressure issues.

    Nikam further argued that the offenses under IPC for which Rane was arrested were all punishable with less than seven years and hence his custody was unnecessary.

    Nikam also argued that Rane’s arrest was illegal as no summons was issued to him under Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure before his arrest.

    Court, after hearing both the sides, denied the police the Union minister’s custody.

    It instead remanded him in judicial custody and then, on the plea moved by his lawyers, granted Rane bail on a surety of Rs 15,000.

    The arrest had followed Rane’s statement targeting Thackeray in Raigad district on Monday.

    “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 (on August 15). Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap,” Rane had said.

    Rane defended his remarks against Thackeray, saying he hasn’t committed any crime by making them.

    On media reportage of his ‘imminent arrest’ in the case, Rane said hours before his arrest that he was not a ‘normal’ (ordinary) man and cautioned the media against such reportage.

    Rane’s remarks against Thackeray drew sharp reactions from Shiv Sena, whose workers put up a poster in Mumbai, calling him a ‘kombdi chor’ (chicken stealer), a reference to the poultry shop he ran in Chembur area five decades ago, during the initial part of his over four-decade-long stint with the Bal Thackeray-led party.

    Rane’s remarks against Uddhav Thackeray set off protests in Mumbai and several other cities which included pelting of stones and vandalising offices of BJP in some areas by Shiv Sena cadres.

    In Mumbai, activists of Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the Sena, and the BJP clashed near Rane’s residence on the Juhu Tara Road in Santacruz (West).

    Stones were pelted from both sides, following which police used cane-charge to disperse the agitators, an official said, adding heavy police security was deployed outside Rane’s residence.

    Slamming the Maharashtra government, BJP president J P Nadda said Rane’s arrest was violative of constitutional values, and his party will not be cowed down by such actions.

    In a tweet, Nadda said the “huge” response the BJP has received in its ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ has jolted its rivals.

    “We fight democratically. The yatra will continue,” he said.

    Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil distanced himself from Rane’s remarks.

    “I am not defending Rane’s comments, but I will also not express regret,” Patil said.

    Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said the BJP does not support Rane’s comments, but the “party stands behind him 100 per cent”.

    Alleging that the state police force was being used as a tool for “vendetta politics”, the former chief minister said there should be law and order and “not Taliban-like governance”.

    Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the sacking of Rane over his remarks against the Maharashtra chief minister.

    Though a team of Nashik police was earlier said to have left to take Rane in custody (as an FIR has been filed against him there too), a senior police official said late at night that they would not arrest the BJP leader for now in view of the Mahad court’s bail order.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • Bihar BJP sees opportunity in upcoming panchayat elections to penetrate deep into the state

    Express News Service

    PATNA :  The BJP is eying the upcoming panchayat elections in Bihar as a means to penetrating deep into the state by committing support to like-minded candidates.

    This would mark the first time the national party would be mobilising its cadre to canvass and vote for candidates, who would not be contesting on party lines.

    The dates for the three-tier panchayat elections were announced on Tuesday. Political observers said the BJP seems to be banking on the prospects of the winners backed by it creating a deep pool of dedicated party cadre.

    Announcing the decision on Monday, Bihar BJP chief Dr Sanjay Jaiswal had said the party decided to throw their weight behind like-minded candidates to strengthen the grassroots of democracy to make the state one of the most prosperous in the country.

    The BJP is the second largest party in Bihar after the RJD, with cadre spread deep into the interiors of the state. 

    The State Election Commission on Tuesday released the dates for the panchayat elections under 11 phases starting September 24 and ending December 12.

    The poll panel has banned the use of party flags and posters of all political parties.

    This would also mark the first time when the elections would be conducted through EVMs on the lines of Assembly elections.

    Representatives for four Panchayat Raj institutions would be elected through this mode.  

    Ballot papers would be used for the elections of ward councillors, the panch and the Sarpanch of Gram-Kachahari.

    State Election Commissioner Dipak Kumar said voting would be held for 8,072 panchayat heads and members of 1,160 district council posts, besides other posts. 

    The BJP’s decision to support candidates comes amid straining relations with JD(U), which has broken ranks on Pegasus snoopgate and caste-based census.

  • Protests in Indore over crimes against Hindus, Opposition hits out at Shivraj government

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL:  A day after a 25-year-old bangle seller from UP was booked for allegedly sexually harassing a minor girl, Hindu outfits staged a protest in Indore, alleging a spate in crimes against Hindus, particularly girls.

    The city police said the protestors had congregated without permission and action would be taken against them.

    A mob of right wing Hindu outfits staged a protest at city’s Regal Crossing despite prohibitory orders.

    They later submitted a memorandum to DIG-Indore Manish Kapooria, alleging anti-national activities and crime against Hindus were on the rise in Indore. SDPI and PFI links to such crimes were also alleged in the memorandum.

    The opposition Congress alleged the ruling BJP’s hand in Tuesday’s protest.

    “Why hasn’t the local administration acted against the Hindu outfits till now,” MP Congress general secretary (media) KK Mishra said.  

    MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra hinted the government was mulling banning the PFI.

    “A delegation of Muslim community met me on Monday and demanded a ban on PFI. I’ve forwarded their memorandum to the home department for legal opinion,” Mishra said.

    Sunday’s assault on Tasleem sparked a political war of words with AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi slamming Narottam Mishra, claiming his tone seemed protective of the assailants.

    Mishra told Owasi not to interfere in MP.

    “Rule of law is being maintained in MP and none will be allowed to disturb law and order. Anyone who holds two to three identity proofs and conceals his real identity is a criminal,” he said.

    Meanwhile, a day after AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi accused him of trying to shield those who allegedly beat up a bangle seller in Indore, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Tuesday asked him not to “interfere” in the issues in the BJP-ruled state.

    “Please do not interfere. there is rule of law in Madhya Pradesh. No one will be allowed to raise their heads here, nor will they be allowed to spread enmity,” Mishra told reporters here when asked about Owaisi’s allegations.

    “I want to tell Owaisi that those who carry two-three different identity cards are criminals. Those who hide their names are criminals. Police have registered a case against those who have beaten up the man and arrested them,” he added.

    A 25-year-old bangle seller, identified as Tasleem Ali, was allegedly beaten up by a mob in Indore on Sunday after finding out his name.

    Four persons were arrested over the assault, while a case was also registered against Ali for allegedly touching a 13-year-old girl inappropriately.

    All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen chief Owaisi had on Monday accused the Madhya Pradesh government of not taking action against those involved in the assault.

    “The Home Minister of MP is also openly making excuses to save criminals. There is no difference between elected governments and extremist mobs,” he had tweeted.

    Earlier, Mishra had told reporters that Ali had tried to hide his identity which led to the row, and two Aadhaar cards were seized from his possession.

    Police have so far arrested four persons.

    The arrested persons were part of a mob that thrashed 25-year-old Taslim Ali on Sunday after asking his name, he said.

    The arrested persons are identified as Rakesh Pawar (38), Vikas Malviya (27), Rajkumar Bhatnagar (37) and Vivek Vyas (35), Banganga police station in-charge Rajendra Soni said.

    He said the police are scanning video footage to identify and nab other persons involved in the attack.

    Police are also investigating the charges of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and forgery registered against Ali.

    Ali was booked under the POCSO Act for allegedly touching a 13-year-old girl inappropriately in Indore city, officials had said on Monday.

    In the melee, Ali, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, left behind a carry bag in which two Aadhaar cards were found, the officials had said.

    Based on the girl’s complaint, a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and IPC sections 420 (cheating) and 471 (using fake documents as real ones), among others, was registered against Ali.

    Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra had said the controversy started when this man described himself as a Hindu to sell bangles to women during the holy month of saavan, while he belongs to another community.

    Eyewitnesses said protestors waved saffron flags and raised slogans such as ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, ‘Hindustan me rahna hoga, Vande Matram kahna hoga’, ‘Jai-Jai Siya Ram’ and ‘Pakistan Murdabad’.

    Despite bringing these incidents to the notice of the police, no firm action is being taken under the pressure from a particular group, they alleged.

    The memorandum mentioned pelting of stones during an Independence Day function, eve-teasing of minor girls and incidents of “luring young girls by men by hiding their true identity”.

    Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Manish Kapooria, however, said appropriate action has been taken in all such cases.

    He said the cooperation of people is needed in maintaining communal harmony in the city.

    “Police will not allow any particular community to disrupt the peace in Indore,” he said.

    ( With PTI Inputs)

  • Rahul upset that India earning Rs 6 lakh crore: BJP

    Congress is trying to tarnish the Centre #39;s image for working to fill state coffers transparently while keeping them secure from the quot;robbers quot; of the opposition party, Union Minister Smriti Irani said.

  • Narayan Rane acting as per his `Sanskar’: Sharad Pawar

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Union minister Narayan Rane was acting according to his “Sanskar”, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said here on Tuesday.

    Rane was arrested earlier in the day over his statement that he would have slapped Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for allegedly not knowing India’s year of independence.

    “I do not want to get into this matter. He is acting as per his Sanskar (values imbibed during formative years),” Pawar told reporters when asked for his reaction.

    “I do not give any importance to the issue,” said the NCP chief, whose party shares power in Maharashtra with the Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena and Congress.

    Incidentally, Rane had started his political career with the Sena before falling out with the Thackerays and joining the Congress.

    He later switched allegiance to the BJP.

  • Back from Delhi after meeting PM Modi, Nitish Kumar expects ‘positive outcome’ on caste-census

    By PTI

    PATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has listened ‘attentively’ and ‘intently’ to submissions of an all-party delegation from Bihar which met him on the issue of caste census and a positive outcome was expected, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said here on Tuesday.

    Kumar, who had on the previous day led the 11-member delegation comprising a legislator each from 10 parties, was replying to queries from journalists at the airport upon his return from the national capital.

    “He listened attentively (dhyaan se)….intently (prem se)…..so it is natural that we would expect some positive outcome”, said the chief minister with a smile. ‘hThe Centre’s recent statement before Parliament that enumeration of only the SCs and the STs was proposed has triggered vociferous demands for including the OBCs, especially in states like Bihar where the numerically powerful intermediary castes wield tremendous political clout.

    ​ALSO READ | PM hears out Bihar all-party delegation’s caste census pitch, asks about Lalu’s health

    The Bihar chief minister underscored that the last time a caste census was held way back in 1931, under the British Raj.

    Fresh census could not be held a decade later because of the Second World War.

    Thereafter, the nation has been making do with estimates based on 1931 figures, he said.

    “This is not a desirable state of affairs. No wonder the desire for a fresh caste census is finding resonance across the country and from among all sections of the society. This is not an issue that concerns only Bihar.”

    “We took the lead because in our state all political parties concur over the issue. Twice, resolutions backing the demand have been passed unanimously by the legislature. The decision to meet the PM to discuss the issue was, significantly, taken in view of a request from the opposition”, remarked Kumar.

    ​ALSO READ | Samajwadi Party to initiate caste census if voted to power in UP Assembly polls

    During the Monsoon Session of the assembly last month, leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav had met Kumar with the request.

    “A copy of the letter that I had received from the opposition has also been made available to the Prime Minister. Moreover, he now knows first-hand the prevailing sentiment in Bihar, having listened to the averments of all delegates”, said the Chief Minister.

    Asked whether his government was prepared to conduct a state-level survey of castes if the Centre did not come out with a positive response, the Bihar chief minister said “let us have some patience. A decision will take place at the appropriate time”.

    Kumar, who is the de facto leader of the JD(U), was also asked about the possibility of the Centre keeping ‘silent’ over caste census, like it has done over the long-standing demand for a special status to Bihar.

    “Please do not have such misgivings. The census cannot be put off for an indefinite period. And once the census begins, we will get to know whether or not the Centre has considered our request”, he quipped.

  • Narayan Rane’s arrest ‘violative’ of constitutional values, says BJP chief JP Nadda

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Slamming the Maharashtra government for the arrest of Union minister Narayan Rane, BJP president J P Nadda on Tuesday said it was violative of constitutional values, and his party will not be be cowed down by such actions.

    In a tweet, Nadda said the “huge” response the BJP has received in its ‘Jan Aashirvad Yatra’ has jolted its rivals.

    “We fight democratically. The yatra will continue,” he said.

    Former CM Devendra Fadnavis said that the BJP does not support Rane’s comment. “We do not support Union Minister Narayan Rane’s remarks on the Chief Minister. One can get angry for not remembering the Amrit Mahotsav year of India’s Independence, this is natural.”

    Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil, however, distanced himself from Rane’s remarks against Thackeray. “I am not defending Rane’s comments, but I will also not express regret,” Patil told a regional news channel.

    Rane was arrested on Tuesday over his remarks about slapping Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for what he claimed was the latter’s ignorance of the year of India’s independence.

    Rane was taken into custody by police in coastal Ratnagiri district, where he is travelling as part of the Jan Ashirvad Yatra.

  • Narayan Rane approaches Bombay HC against FIRs; seeks protection from arrest

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Union minister Narayan Rane approached the Bombay High Court on Tuesday, challenging the FIRs lodged against him over his remarks against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and sought protection from arrest.

    Rane’s petition, filed through advocate Aniket Nikam, sought the FIRs to be quashed.

    The BJP leader also sought an interim order granting him protection from arrest or any coercive action.

    The petition was mentioned before a division bench of Justices S S Shinde and N J Jamadar, seeking urgent hearing on Tuesday itself.

    The bench, however, refused to hear it and said mentioning (of the petition) was not allowed and asked the lawyer to follow the procedure.

    ALSO READ | ‘Haven’t committed any crime’: Rane on ‘tight slap’ remarks about Uddhav as security beefed outside Union Minister’s residence

    “File an application before the Registry department seeking urgent hearing and then we will consider,” the court said.

    The petition has challenged the FIRs lodged against Rane in Pune, Nashik and Mahad in Raigad.

    Rane had sparked off a row over his remarks about slapping CM Thackeray for what he claimed as the latter’s ignorance of the year of India’s independence.

    Nashik Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey on Tuesday issued orders for the immediate arrest of Rane after an FIR was registered against him in the north Maharashtra city over his remarks against the CM.

  • Pilot says BJP’s ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ amid price rise, threats on nation’s borders beyond comprehension

    By PTI

    JODHPUR: Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday said it is beyond comprehension that the BJP is seeking people’s blessings through ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ when the prices of petrol and diesel have crossed Rs 100-mark and China and Pakistan are “attacking” India at its borders.

    He alleged that the BJP never did anything positive as the opposition party in Rajasthan in the last two-and-a-half years.

    The former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan also exuded confidence that the Congress will win in all six districts where Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad elections will be held starting Thursday.

    Pilot, who came here to visit Congress MLA Hemaram Choudhary’s family following the demise of his brother, was speaking to reporters at Jodhpur Circuit House before heading back to Jaipur.

    The Congress leader wondered what ‘ashirwad’ (blessings) the BJP is seeking from people when the prices of petrol and diesel have crossed Rs 100-mark, the price of cooking gas cylinder has surpassed Rs 800, the country faced a “pathetic” situation during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and “China and Pakistan are attacking the country at borders”.

    “They (BJP) are seeking the public’s blessings in such a situation, this is beyond comprehension,” Pilot said.

    Thirty-nine newly inducted and elevated Union ministers belonging to the BJP are undertaking ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatras’ to cover 212 Lok Sabha constituencies and travel over 19,567 km to reach out to people and tell them about the government’s achievements.

    Pilot claimed that the Congress will emerge victorious in all six districts of the state where panchayat polls will be held later this week.

    “The Congress will win in all the six districts where panchayat elections are taking place because the BJP has not done anything positive as the opposition party in the last two-and-a-half years.

    All this while, they remained engaged in a poster war and in establishing who is big and who is small,” he said.

    The election for 200 Zila Parishad and 1,564 Panchayat Samiti seats in Bharatpur, Dausa, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur and Sirohi districts will be held in three phases on August 26, 29 and September 1.

    On the farm laws, Pilot said it’s been nine months since these legislations were introduced but the government refuses to let go of its “obstinacy”.

    The government threatens and arrests farmers, “but you will never talk of justice. This is sheer obstinacy and such obstinacy is not a good sign for democracy,” he said.

    Reiterating the Congress’ stand on the contentious farm laws, he said that they must be rolled back and the government should listen to farmers.

    Asked about cabinet expansion in Rajasthan, Pilot said, “Let us see what happens in the time to come.”

  • Shiv Sena-BJP activists clash near Narayan Rane’s residence as Union Minister faces arrest over his ‘tight slap’ remark to Uddhav

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Activists of the Shiv Sena’s youth wing and the BJP clashed with each other near Union minister Narayan Rane’s residence in Mumbai on Tuesday in the wake of his comments against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, police said.

    Stones were pelted from both the sides, following which police used cane-charge to disperse the agitators, an official said.

    The Shiv Sena workers sat on the Juhu Tara Road in Santacruz (West) near Rane’s residence, and activists from both the sides shouted slogans against each other, the official said.

    Following the incident, the road was blocked from two sides, disrupting traffic in the area.

    Additional police force was deployed in the area, the official said.

    The clash took place during a protest organised by activists of the Yuva Sena (the Shiv Sena’s youth wing) against Union minister Rane, he added.

    BJP workers had gathered outside Rane’s residence in the morning in support of their party leader, while Shiv Sena activists, including women, carrying placards and shouting slogans against Rane, had assembled outside an office of the Yuva Sena (the party’s youth wing), located nearby in Juhu.

    Heavy police security was deployed outside Rane’s residence, the official said.

    According to police, Shiv Sena and BJP supporters also clashed at Chiplun in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district.

    Besides, stones were hurled at the BJP’s office in Nashik city, while Shiv Sena workers held agitations in Nagpur, officials said.

    Rane, who was recently inducted into the Union cabinet, had sparked off a row over his remarks about slapping Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, for what he claimed as the latter’s ignorance of the year of India’s independence.

    “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,” Rane said during his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in adjoining Raigad district on Monday.

    Nashik Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey on Tuesday issued orders for the immediate arrest of Rane and a team of the city police left for Chiplun in Konkan region, where Rane is present now, after a complaint against the Union minister over the remarks.

    A case was also registered against Rane in Pune, while the Shiv Sena lodged a complaint against him at a police station in Aurangabad.

    Nashik Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey on Tuesday issued orders for the immediate arrest of the Union minister after an FIR was registered against him in the north Maharashtra city.

    Accordingly, a team of Nashik Police left in the morning for Ratnagiri district, where Rane is currently carrying out his ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’, an official said.

    Following his remarks, a complaint was lodged against Rane by Nashik city Shiv Sena unit chief at the Cyber police station there.

    Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered against Rane in Nashik under IPC sections 500 (defamation), 505(2) (mischief), 153-B (1)(c) (remarks likely to cause disharmony, or feeling of enmity or hatred or ill-will), a police official said.

    Considering the law and order situation across the state and in Nashik in the wake of Rane’s remarks, Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey ordered an investigation into the matter and immediate arrest of the Union minister.

    Accordingly, a team, led by Nashik DCP (crime) Sanjay Barkund and comprising police inspector Ananda Wagh and other officers, was formed and it rushed to Chiplun in Ratnagiri to arrest Rane, the official said.

    The team was asked to arrest Rane and produce him before a court in Nashik, the official said, adding the team was also directed to follow the due procedure for arresting the Union minister.

    “We are going by the facts of the case after the registration of an offence against Rane. We are following the rule of law,” Pandey said, adding the arrest was needed to prevent the repetition of such an offence.

    The Union minister will be arrested in the case and produced before a court, and further action will be taken according to orders of the court, the police commissioner said.

    After Rane’s arrest, Vice President (Venkaiah Naidu) will be informed as the Union minister is a member of the Rajya Sabha, the official said.

    “While arresting Rane, police will follow all protocols with regard to a Union minister,” he said adding all his privileges as Union minister will be considered.

    Whatever he wants to say, he can put forth before the court, the senior police official said.

    Meanwhile, in Aurangabad , Shiv Sena’s spokesperson Ambadas Danve lodged a complaint against Rane at Kranti Chowk police station over the latter’s remarks against the CM and party workers hit a photo of the Union minister with footwear.

    Talking to reporters after lodging the police complaint, Danve said Rane’s remarks were “objectionable”, and demanded action against the BJP leader.

    The MLC called Rane a ‘kombdi chor’ (chicken stealer) — a reference to the poultry shop he ran in Chembur five decades ago during his initial stint with the Sena — a released a couple of hens at the Kranti Chowk square.

    The women’s wing of the Shiv Sena will also undertake an agitation in Aurangabad, Danve said.

    “Earlier, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray used to call Narayan Rane as ‘Naru’, which is the name of a disease in Marathi. The Shiv Sena has a remedy for this disease,” he said.

    He claimed Rane made the statement to provoke the Shiv Sena.

    The Shiv Sena will protest against Rane’s statement through the constitutional process as well as by taking to the streets, the MLC said.

    An official at the Kranti Chowk police station in Aurangabad said they have received the Shiv Sena’s complaint and action will be taken as per the instructions of senior officials.