Rane justifies jibe, Sena calls him ‘balloon with holes’

BHAGWAN PARAB and SONU SHRIVASTAVA MUMBAI, AUG. 25

Union minister Narayan Rane on Wednesday justified his “slap Uddhav Thackeray” remark, saying he made the comment “because of pride in my country.” He also made it clear that he would resume his Jan Ashirwad Yatra from Friday. On the other hand, Shiv Sena continued name-calling the Union minister.

In an editorial in its party mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena called Mr Rane a “balloon with holes” and a “croaking frog”.

The editorial also said that Mr Rane got his name and fame when he was in Shiv Sena. Since he shifted his loyalty to the BJP, he had lost to the Sena four times.

I am not afraid of anyone... My words were an expression of anger against the CM (Uddhav) who forgot the year of India’s Independence.

A day after his arrest and release on bail, Union minister Narayan Rane has justified his “slap Uddhav Thackeray” remark, saying he made the comment “because of pride in my country.” He also made it clear that he would resume his Jan Ashirwad Yatra from Friday. On the other hand, Shiv Sena continued name-calling the minister.

In an editorial in its party mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena called

Mr Rane a “balloon with holes” and a “croaking frog”. The editorial also said that Mr Rane got his name and fame when he was in Shiv Sena. Since he shifted his loyalty to the BJP, he had lost to the Sena four times.

“I made that statement as I could not tolerate the ignorance shown towards the nation and the national festival (Independence Day). I am proud of my nation and the nationality. I will not tolerate anything said against it,” Mr Rane said on Wednesday.

“I am not afraid of anyone and I am not backing out. My words were an expression of anger against the chief minister (Uddhav) who forgot the year of India’s

Independence,” he added.

Mr Rane, Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, was arrested on Tuesday by Maharashtra Police for threatening to “slap” CM Uddhav Thackeray. “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,” he had said. He was released on bail in Mahad in Raigad, after spending nearly nine

— Narayan Rane, Union minister

hours in police custody.

Mr Rane also invoked Mr Thackeray’s earlier “will hit with slippers” comment about his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath on this occasion. Three years ago, the Shiv Sena chief had slammed the UP CM saying, “‘Is he a yogi or a dhongi (hypocrite)? He wore chappals (slippers) while garlanding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I felt like hitting him with the same chappal. Who are you to even stand before a statue of Maharaj?” Mr Thackeray had said.