The Shiv Sena workers, seemingly, went violent while protesting against Union Minister and Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Narayan Rane, in Mumbai on Tuesday, Aug 24. While the protests took place in several parts of Maharashtra, the one at Kalyan West office is interesting one as Shiv Sainiks (Shiv Sena workers) in a dominant number allegedly attacked the BJP office in Kalyan West who were encountered by only one BJP worker identified as Tumkar who was later felicitated by BJP for his bravery.
A strong wave of criticism hit on social media where Shiv Sena was mercilessly criticised for its oppressive approach. Many criticised Shiv Sena for its hooliganism in the name of protests.
The Shiv Sainiks are said to be angry after Narayan Rane, in his recent press conference, expressed to slap Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Rane had lashed out at Thackeray for forgetting the year of Independence celebration this year.
“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.” said Narayan Rane, in Marathi, in his press address while being on Jan Ashirvad Yatra on Monday in an area around Raigad. The real controversy wasn’t this, but what he later spoke about. The controversy flamed after Rane, wittily, expressed to slap CM Uddhav Thackeray had the former been around the latter. “Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap,” added Union Minister Rane in his controversial address on Monday.
There were speculations since then that Shiv Sena led Maha Vikas Aaghadi (MVA) government may take some coercive action against Rane for his bold words.
A Shiv Sainik, Siddhesh Patekar, on Monday, August 23, filed a police complaint against Rane charging him for spreading enmity and harming a public representative. Similarly, several Shiv Sainiks also filed police complaints in Nashik & Thane. Eventually, Rane was first detained by Ratnagiri police and subsequently arrested while he was on BJP’s ongoing Jan Ashirvad Yatra in Sangameshwar in Ratnagiri district.
The initial period seemed worrisome for Rane as Bombay High Court refused to take up the matter for urgent hearing. The matter is listed for Aug 25 in Bombay HC. However, by the end of the day i.e. Aug 24, MSME Minister was granted bail by a Magistrate court in Mahad, Raigad district.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) and former Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, condemned police action on Rane. He reprimanded the Shiv Sena led Maharashtra government for its lackadaisical action against Sharjeel Usmani who spat hatred against India, but immediate unwarranted action against Union Minister Rane for a non-cognisable offence. Fadnavis cleared that his party doesn’t stand by Rane’s words against Thackeray but will support the latter if any illegal action is taken against Rane.
