Maharashtra: Union Minister Rane Arrested After ‘Would Have Slapped Uddhav’ Remark; BJP in ‘Shock’

Mumbai: Maharashtra's political cauldron is boiling once again. On Tuesday evening, Narayan Rane, Union Minister for Small and Medium Industries, was arrested by Maharashtra police for his remark deriding Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The arrest was preceded by protests in various cities by Shiv Sena and FIRs against Rane, a former Sena leader who is now in the BJP.

To seek protection against arrest, Rane's moved an anticipatory bail application which was rejected by the district court of Ratnagiri (where he was arrested). He also petitioned the Bombay High Court, which asked him to follow the procedure while rejecting to give him any immediate relief. 

The political drama began during Rane’s Jan Ashirvad Yatra, where he took a jibe against Thackeray for “not remembering” the exact number of years of India’s Independence and said: “Had I been there I would have slapped him." He was referring to the Chief Minister’s speech on Independence Day, where while speaking from dias, Thackeray had asked the Chief Secretary about which anniversary fell this year.

After Rane's remarks, angry Shiv Sena workers took to the roads across the state. They also started filing FIRs against Rane. A total of four FIRs have been filed till now. 

Shiv Sainiks also started attacking Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) city offices in various locations. They broke into Nasik city office and also reportedly attacked some BJP workers. 

On the other side, Nasik Commissioner of Police ordered action against Rane. A team of Nasik police went to Ratnagiri (in Konkan) to arrest Rane. In afternoon, Ratnagiri SP detained Rane at Sangmeshwar tehsil. A complaint was lodged by Nashik city Shiv Sena unit chief at the cyber police station there, after which an FIR was registered against Rane 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.

Meanwhile Rane's lawyer approached the Ratnagiri district court requesting a stay on police action. But the court rejected the bail application. After that, Rane tried to reach the Bombay HC. His lawyer requested court to stay the action. But court rejected to intervene at this point of time and asked Rane to follow the procedure. 

There were reports that while the process to arrest him was on, Rane complained of high blood pressure and sugar levels and a doctor was called to examine him.

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

“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?” Rane said.

The police action is politically significant right now. Rane was made a Central minister recently by the BJP with an eye on the upcoming Mumbai municipal corporation elections in February 2022, which is under Shiv Sena's control right now. BJP is trying to win Marathi voters by projecting former Sena leader Rane.

But, Sena's strong reaction seems to have ‘shocked’ BJP.  The state BJP has alleged that the Maharashtra government's action is ‘vendetta’ politics. Former CM Devendra Fadnavis said he does not support Rane’s statement but his party stands with him to protest against police action. Slamming the Maharashtra government for the arrest of Rane, BJP president J P Nadda on Tuesday said it was violative of constitutional values, and his party will not be cowed down by such actions.

Since Sushant Singh suicide case from 2020, Sena had been ignoring “objectionable” remarks by Rane on its top leadership. This action also ends rumours of Sena going back to the BJP’s fold in future.