News Analysis India

Tag: Narayan Rane

  • 3 Key Ministers From Modi 2.0 Left Out Of BJP-Led NDA Cabinet |

    PM Modi Swearing-In Ceremony: As BJP leader Narendra Modi took the oath as Prime Minister for the third time on Sunday, many new names are going to uphold cabinet berths in Modi 3.0. However, there are some popular faces that are kept off the Union Ministers list. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister Smriti Irani, Anurag Thakur, and Narayan Rane will not be part of the cabinet in the 18th Lok Sabha. 

    Irani contested the Lok Sabha election from Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi, but she faced defeat by over 1.6 lakh votes to Congress loyalist Kishori Lal Sharma. Earlier, she had served as the Women and Child Development Minister during the Modi government’s second term. Five years prior, she had won against Congress’s Rahul Gandhi. 

    On the other hand, Thakur secured a victory in the general election from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, having previously managed sports, information, and broadcasting portfolios. According to sources, he will not be included in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest Union Cabinet. 

    Rane served as the Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises during Modi’s second term. He won the Lok Sabha election, representing Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg in Maharashtra. 

    The Modi 3.0 cabinet includes several prominent BJP leaders such as Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, S. Jaishankar, Nitin Gadkari, Mansukh Mandaviya, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhupendra Yadav, Prahlad Joshi, Kiren Rijiju, C.R. Paatil, L. Murugan, Hardeep Puri, M.L. Khattar, Shivraj Chouhan, Gajendra Shekhawat, Suresh Gopi, and Jitin Prasada. 

  • Mumbai: Union minister Narayan Rane, son quizzed by police in Disha Salian case

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Union minister Narayan Rane and his MLA son Nitesh Rane were quizzed by the police here for several hours on Saturday in connection with a case registered against them for allegedly making slanderous and misleading statements about the death of Disha Salian, late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s former manager.

    Rane and his son, both BJP leaders, arrived at the Malvani police station in the western suburbs around 1.45 pm, and left around 10.45 pm, nine hours later.

    The Union minister’s supporters thronged outside the police station when he arrived.

    The Malvani police had earlier sent a notice to Nitesh Rane to appear before the investigating officer on Thursday.

    His father was asked to appear on Friday.

    But their lawyers had said that as the state legislature was in session, the two leaders would appear before the police on Saturday.

    A court here on Friday had granted interim protection from arrest till March 10 to both Union minister Rane and his son.

    The Ranes had filed anticipatory bail applications before the Dindoshi sessions court in suburban Malad fearing arrest in the case.

    According to the FIR registered by Malvani police, Union MSME minister Rane made certain remarks about Disha Salian’s death at a press conference on February 19 where his son was also present.

    Salian allegedly committed suicide by jumping off a high-rise in suburban Malad on June 8, 2020, six days before actor Rajput (34) was found hanging at his apartment in suburban Bandra.

    Speaking to reporters after leaving the police station on Saturday night, Narayan Rane claimed that after the deaths of Salian and Rajput, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray called him twice and requested him not to talk about Salian’s death.

    Officials from the chief minister’s office or spokespersons of the Shiv Sena, Thackeray’s party, were not available for comments immediately.

    Narayan Rane, a former Shiv Sena leader himself, turned a bitter critic of Uddhav Thackeray after falling out with him and leaving the party in 2005.

  • Disha Salian’s parents demand action against politicians for maligning daughter’s name

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The parents of deceased Disha Salian, the former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, met the chief of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) here on Wednesday and demanded action against Union Minister Narayan Rane, his son Nitish and others who were spreading false news about their daughter’s death.

    Disha’s parents Vasanti and Satish Salian met MSCW chief Rupali Chakankar at the commission’s office in suburban Bandra, and expressed their distress over the ongoing defamatory news about their late daughter, an official said.

    The Salians have stated that they will not be able to survive in the society with respect if such false news was spread on news channels, and hence, they demanded action against concerned people, he said.

    Following the meet, the commission has taken their demand seriously and assured them of justice, the official added.

    Days earlier, Union minister and BJP leader Narayan Rane had addressed a press conference in which he made certain claims regarding Disha’s death.

    However, despite the emotional appeal made by Disha’s family members to politicians to refrain from maligning her name by questioning the circumstances surrounding her death, claims and counter-claims on the issue are being made, with Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil saying that the truth behind Disha’s death will be exposed after March 7.

    Earlier this week, the MSCW had issued a notice to the Mumbai Police in connection with Disha’s alleged suicide and directed them to file a reply in the next two days, after Rane claimed that she was raped and murdered.

    Salian (28) allegedly committed suicide by jumping from a high-rise building in suburban Malad on June 8, 2020, six days before Rajput (34) was found hanging at his apartment in suburban Bandra.

  • Uddhav Thackeray, Narayan Rane trade barbs at Sindhudurg airport inauguration

    By PTI

    CHIPI: Arch-political enemies Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Union minister Narayan Rane on Saturday shared the dais at the inauguration of an airport at Chipi in the Sindhudurg district, and took swipes at each other.

    This was probably for the first time the two came together on stage after Rane parted ways with the Shiv Sena — now headed by Thackeray — on a bitter note sixteen years ago.

    The occasion also had a backdrop of Rane’s arrest in August this year for a remark against the chief minister.

    Rane, who hails from Sindhudurg, in his speech listed the work done by him since he was elected as MLA from this picturesque region of coastal Maharashtra for the first time in 1990.

    He was given the charge of the district on the instructions of Shiv Sena founder (and Uddhav Thackeray’s father) late Bal Thackeray, and there were no proper roads, water or education facilities in the region then, he said.

    After the Shiv Sena-BJP combine came to power in the state in 1995, he requested then chief minister Manohar Joshi to declare Sindhudurg as a “tourism district”, Rane claimed.

    “After that the work for basic amenities like roads, power, education, water, and healthcare was carried out. The existing infrastructure is because of Narayan Rane. Nobody can match it,” he said.

    “People know who works. Uddhav-ji, I learnt everything from Saheb (Bal Thackeray),” Rane added.

    The BJP leader also said even today there is no water or electricity infrastructure near Chipi, nor is there a proper road to the airport.

    In a barely veiled attack on the chief minister, Rane said the late Bal Thackeray disliked lying, and did not care for those who lie.

    In his speech, chief minister Thackeray hit back, saying, “Balasaheb did not like lying. Hence, many times such people (who lied) were kicked out of the Shiv Sena. (Bal Thackeray would say) Even if the truth is bitter, please speak it.”

    In another dig at Rane, he said, “As per my knowledge, the Sindhudurg fort was built by (Shivaji) Maharaj. Otherwise someone might say ‘I built it.’”

    He also said it must be pondered why it took so long for this airport to be built.

    “Some people said Konkan will be transformed into California, but why has it not happened yet,” Thackeray added.

    Then he took a dig at Rane’s portfolio at the Centre, namely, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

    “You (Rane) are a minister. So what if it is ‘micro and small’, it is still an important department and (we are sure) you will use it for the benefit of Maharashtra,” the CM said.

    There should also be a heliport at Chipi which can be used for tourism, he said.

    The chief minister also said he never mixed politics and work, and when Rane called him up for the grant of approval for a medical college in the Sindhudurg district, he immediately cleared the proposal.

    Since his exit from the Sena in 2005, for which he blamed Uddhav Thackeray, Rane has often targeted the latter.

    Soon after he was inducted into the Union cabinet, Rane was arrested by the Maharashtra police in August over his comments against Thackeray.

    He was granted bail by the court the same day.

    Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on this occasion that thanks to the new airport, the distance of 530 km between Mumbai and Chipi can now be covered in 50 minutes.

    There are also plans to connect Chipi with Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and other major cities and 20-25 flights to Chipi will be started in the next five years, he said.

    Maharashtra now has 14 airports, Scindia noted.

    Tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray, who also handles the environment portfolio, said all efforts will be made to promote tourism in Konkan while conserving its ecology.

    The Sindhudurg Airport, also known as Chipi Airport, is spread over 275 hectares.

    The length of its runway is 2,500 metres, and it can accommodate narrow-body aircraft like Airbus A-320 and Boeing B-737.

    The airport terminal building has the capacity to handle 200 departing and 200 arriving passengers during peak hours.

    Union minister Ramdas Athawale and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar were also among those present on the occasion.

  • Bombay HC asks Narayan Rane to file separate pleas for six FIRs against him over his ‘slap CM’ remarks

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday directed Union Minister Narayan Rane to file separate petitions instead of only one that seeks to quash the FIRs registered against him at six police stations across the state over his controversial remarks against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

    Rane had filed a petition seeking to quash the cases lodged against him at Mahad, Nashik, Pune, Thane, Jalgaon and Ahmednagar.

    On Friday when the plea came up for hearing before a division bench of Justices S S Shinde and N J Jamadar, the court said it would be better if separate petitions are filed for each of the FIR.

    “The FIRs are of different police stations.

    Let the challenge to each of the FIR be in separate petitions.

    Then it will become easier for the prosecution also to take instructions from each police station,” the court said.

    Rane’s counsel Ashok Mundargi and advocate Aniket Nikam agreed and said they would file separate petitions.

    They sought interim protection in all the cases.

    “The prosecution had earlier said they would not take any coercive action against Rane in the FIR registered by the Nashik cyber police.

    Similar protection should be given in the other cases too,” Mundargi said.

    The court said it would first hear the pleas and then decide.

    It said the police’s earlier statement of no coercive action in the Nashik police station case shall continue till the next date of hearing.

    The court posted the matter for further hearing on September 30.

    Additional public prosecutor Jayesh Yagnik, appearing for the prosecution, said Rane had assured that he would cooperate with the investigation being carried out by the Nashik police and has to appear before it on September 25 to record his statement.

    Mundargi said Rane would cooperate and appear via video-conferencing.

    Rane faces these FIRs over his remark that he would have slapped Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the latter’s “ignorance” of the year of India’s independence.

    The remarks made last month, had triggered a political row and protests.

  • ‘Slap Thackeray’ remark: Union minister Narayan Rane appears before Raigad police

    By PTI

    ALIBAUG: Union minister Narayan Rane, who faces a case over his objectionable comment against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, appeared before the police in Raigad district on Monday as per a court order.

    The BJP leader arrived here, the headquarters of Raigad district located around 100km from Mumbai, at around 3 pm and went straight to the office of superintendent of police (SP). After sometime, Rane came out and told the waiting mediapersons that he appeared before the SP in accordance with an order given by a court at Mahad near here last month.

    He left the spot without speaking further with reporters. The Raigad BJP had put up hoardings in the coastal town to welcome Rane. Police personnel were also deployed at different spots in the town. Rane was arrested on August 25 for a comment about “slapping” Thackeray.

    He was granted bail hours later by the court at Mahad. A magistrate, while granting the Union minister bail, had directed him to appear before the SP on August 30 and September 13. However, Rane did not appear before the police on August 30 citing ill health.

  • Our party not interested in clashing with Shiv Sena: BJP General Secretary CT Ravi

    By PTI

    THANE: BJP General Secretary CT Ravi has said his party was not interested in clashing with the Shiv Sena and maintained time has come to think if the Maharashtra-based political outfit has drifted away from its own thoughts and those of its founder Bal Thackeray.

    He said that the though BJP does not endorse Union minister Narayan Rane’s “slap” comments against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, but the party stands with its leader. Ravi, who is in-charge of Maharashtra and two other states, was in Thane on Sunday for a party meeting and also to take stock of preparations for the forthcoming civic elections.

    Polls are slated for civic bodies of several big cities of the state, including Mumbai, Thane and Pune, next year. Talking to reporters after the meeting with BJP office-bearers, he said his party was not here to clash with the Shiv Sena, its former ally which has now joined hands with the Congress and the NCP.

    Ravi’s statement came in the backdrop of Rane’s arrest for his remarks against Thackeray last week and subsequent clashes between Shiv Sena and BJP workers in several parts of the state, including Mumbai. He said time has come to think if the Shiv Sena has drifted away from its own thoughts and those of its founder late Bal Thackeray.

    Ravi avoided any answer when asked about the possibility of the BJP and the Shiv Sena once again coming together. He said the BJP was only against those who have “anti-national” ideologies and the Shiv Sena does not fall in this category.

  • ‘Slap Uddhav’ remarks: Narayan Rane fails to appear before police; lawyer says he is unwell

    By PTI

    ALIBAUG: Union minister Narayan Rane on Monday failed to appear at the office of the superintendent of police here in Raigad district of Maharashtra as directed by a court earlier due to ill health, his lawyer said.

    Rane’s lawyer Sandesh Chikne appeared in the office of the local crime branch inspector Dayanand Gavde on behalf of Rane.

    He told the police that Rane couldn’t come as he was not feeling well.

    In the morning, a posse of police personnel was deployed near the office of the superintendent of police in anticipation of the arrival of Rane, Gavde said, adding the situation is normal now.

    Chikne was accompanied by local leaders of the BJP.

    Rane was arrested on Tuesday afternoon from the Ratnagiri district following his remarks that he would have slapped Chief Minister Thackeray for what he claimed as the latter’s ignorance of the year of India’s independence.

    The Union minister was produced before a magistrate at Mahad in Raigad on Tuesday night.

    The court while granting bail to Rane on a surety of Rs 15,000 directed him to appear at the office of the Superintendent of Police in Alibaug (Raigad) on August 30 and September 13.

    Rane faces four FIRs in Maharashtra over his remarks, which triggered a political row and protests across the state on Tuesday.

    The FIR at Mahad was registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 189 (threat of injury to public servant), 504 (intentional insult to provoke break of public peace) and 505 (statements conducive to public mischief).

  • Narayan Rane disrespected PM Modi’s directives on ‘Jan Ashirvad Yatra’: Sanjay Raut 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Union minister Narayan Rane’s “egotist and revengeful attitude” has forced the BJP on backfoot, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said on Saturday and alleged the Konkan strongman was not following the directives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi vis-a-vis the ‘Jan Ashirvad Yatra’.

    Addressing the party workers in Nashik, Raut hit back at Rane over the latter’s statement that he will “dig out” “old cases” saying the Sena has the “Kundli” (a record) of Rane, a former Shiv Sainik, and can open a “sandook” (box).

    Rane was arrested and released on bail on Tuesday late at night over his “would have slapped” comments against Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.

    One of the FIRs against Rane was registered in Nashik.

    “Besides Rane, other (newly-inducted) Union ministers from Maharashtra- Bharti Pawar, Kapil Patil, Bhagwat Karad are also touring various areas as part of the ‘Jan Ashirvad Yatra’.

    But instead of following PM Modi’s directives to propagate the work of the Central government, Rane has been targetting the Sena, Uddhav Thackeray and the MVA government.

    Rane and his present party, the BJP, will have to introspect. The BJP will soon realise its mistake (of inducting Rane). It is already on backfoot due to Rane’s attitude of revenge and ego which will bring the BJP down,” he said.

    Referring to Rane’s threat of digging out old cases, Raut asked, “Don’t we have his ‘Kundli’.

    Be prepared when we open our ‘sandook’ (box)”.

    Rane’s ‘Jan Ashirvad Yatra’ is currently touring the coastal Konkan region, including the Sindhudurg district, his stronghold.

    Raut also spoke about the one-on-one meeting between Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and Thackeray, saying the CM must have told Fadnavis what he needed to do.

    “We have political differences with BJP.

    If BJP wants to shoot us over Rane’s shoulders, we are ready.

    We had differences with (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar also but today we are together,” he said.

    Besides the Sena, the NCP and the Congress are the two other constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

  • Fuel prices up due to higher import cost of crude oil: Union minister Narayan Rane

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Union minister Narayan Rane on Friday claimed that higher import cost of crude oil was the main reason behind the spiralling retail prices of petrol and diesel.

    Replying to questions on rising fuel prices which have touched record levels this year, he told reporters in Ratnagiri district that certain things are not in the government’s hands.

    “The import cost of crude oil has gone up. Hence, we (the central government) have to increase the retail prices of petrol, diesel, LPG. Certain things are not in our hands, because we import it,” the Union MSME minister said.

    According to estimates, India imports over 80 per cent of its oil needs and more than 50 per cent of its gas requirement.

    “I will take up the issue with right persons,” Rane said when asked whether the common man will get any relief from rising fuel prices.

    The minister was in Ratnagiri district of coastal Maharashtra as part of his ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’, the BJP’s mass contact programme.