Image Courtesy:timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Sixty-nine-year-old Narayan Rane, formerly of the Shiv Sena, briefly of the Congress, now committed to the Bharatiya Janata Party since 2019, has become the first Union Minister in two decamed to be arrested. Rane was arrested on August 24, for his Union Minister Narayan Rane was arrested today over his comment that he “would have slapped” Uddhav Thackeray, claiming that the Maharashtra Chief Minister was ignorant about the year of India’s independence. Rane had reportedly made this remark at the BJP’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Raigad district on Monday. He had said: “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, who is the Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, is the “first central minister to be arrested in 20 years” , reported NDTV. The arrest sent the media abuzz that reported how “the minister was arrested while he was having his meal”. He was arrested shortly after his request for an urgent hearing on his petition for protection against action was rejected by the Bombay High Court. According to news reports Rane’s lawyer told the court: “The police have arrived to arrest him, they are waiting at his doorstep.” However, in response the High Court said: “Please follow the procedure. Don’t make us do the job of the registry.” The Shiv Sena had filed FIRs, reportedly in three cities against Rane over his remarks on the CM, accusing Rane of non-bailable offences.
He had then responded that he was a Union Minister, and was being falsely charged. He even equated it with ‘rajdroh’ or treason.
माझ्यावर सरकारने चुकीच्या पद्धतीने गुन्हे दाखल केले आहेत. मी केंद्रीय मंत्री आहे, माझ्या वक्तव्याचा विपर्यास करून बेकायदेशीर पद्धतीने गुन्हे दाखल करणे हा राजद्रोह आहे. राज्यसरकारने सुडाचं राजकारण करू नये. #JanAshirwadYatra pic.twitter.com/AmYmO2ae7n
— Narayan Rane (@MeNarayanRane) August 24, 2021
He also lashed out at the media which had begun reporting on a possible arrest after the court’s response. According to NDTV Rane told the media: “I haven’t committed any crime. You should verify and show it on TV or else I will file a case against you (media). Despite not committing any crime, the media is showing speculative news about my ‘imminent’ arrest. Do you think I am a normal (ordinary) man?”
According to News18, “Nashik Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey issued orders for Rane’s immediate arrest after an FIR was registered against him in the north Maharashtra city. He was taken into custody by police in coastal Ratnagiri district, where he is travelling as part of the Jan Ashirwad Yatra.” Rane was taken to the Sangameshwar police station after being taken into custody, stated the news reports, adding that the BJP leader had complained of high blood pressure and sugar levels and was examined by a doctor.
The Shiv Sena has alleged that Rane’s comments were deliberate and would fuel unrest . Media reports showed that there was sloganeering, allegedly by Shiv Sena members near Rane’s Mumbai home. And that they were “stopped by BJP workers”. His party colleague and former CM Devendra Fadnavis told the media that while he didn’t support Rane’s comments but the police action was excessive and a misuse of power: “We don’t support Narayan Rane’s statement (against Uddhav Thackeray) but I, as an individual & the party stand with him,” adding that “Sharjeel Usmani had abused Bharat Mata but no FIR was registered against him but you (state govt) filed an FIR against Narayan Rane”
केंद्रीय मंत्री श्री नारायणराव राणे यांच्यावरील कारवाई ही सूडबुद्धीने केलेली आहे.
पोलिस यंत्रणेचा दुरूपयोग करीत होत असलेल्या या दडपशाहीचा मी तीव्र निषेध करतो.
शर्जिल उस्मानी मोकाट आणि
नारायण राणे यांना अटक!हे आहे नवे हिंदूत्त्व आणि
असा आहे नवा महाराष्ट्र !!!#NarayanRane— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 24, 2021
Action against Union Minister Narayanrao Rane is absolute vendetta !
We strongly condemn this gross misuse of police force & suppression.
Sharjeel Usmani is free & Narayan Rane arrested!This is their Hindutva & This is what Maharashtra looks like ‼️@MeNarayanRane #NarayanRane
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 24, 2021
Fadnavis also compared the police action to the Taliban: “I want to make it clear that we do not support the comment about the Chief Minister but we will stand by Rane with all our strength. I want to tell the police commissioner that if there is no action against those who attacked our offices then both opposition leaders will sit on dharna at the police commissioner’s office. There should be a rule of law, not Taliban rule,” he was quoted by NDTV.
Meanwhile, Sena MP Vinayak Raut wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded that Rane be sacked from the Union Cabinet: “To impress the BJP leadership, Rane has been attacking Shiv Sena and its leaders. He lost his mental balance after his induction into the Modi-led ministry. Modi should show him the door.”
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