Narayan Rane's 'Tight Slap' Remark Against CM Thackeray For Forgetting India's Independence Year Sparks Row; Shiv Sena Files FIR

At least three complaints have been filed against Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane for allegedly threatening to 'slap' Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray after the latter allegedly forgot the year of independence during his 15 August address to citizens.

The Union Minister, who hails from the state, is currently on a 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' from Mumbai to Sindhudurg and the alleged comments came during a rally in Chiplun (Ratnagiri) on Monday night.

In the rally Rane remarked, “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.”

Irate Shiv Sena and Yuva Sena activists retaliated by erecting a hoarding in Dadar with a picture of Rana and a cocky caption -- 'Kombdi Chor' (Chicken Thief) -- and others lodged police complaints against him in Pune, Nashik and Raigad districts.

While Sena and its affiliated wings have reacted sharply to Rane's comments, the local BJP leaders sought to defend him saying it was made in a typical 'Thackeray-style language'.

Even as the police beefed up security for Rane's home in Mumbai, Sindhudurg and a resort where he was camping, his son Nitesh Rane said that they are consulting legal advisors in the matter.

This is the second major brush between the former allies turned enemies BJP-Sena in a week. Last Wednesday, Sena activists 'cleaned and purified' the late Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial at Shivaji Park after Rane paid obeisance there prior to launching his yatra.

However, despite the police complaints, Rane's team has made it clear that the ongoing 'Yatra' will continue undisturbed till 27 August as originally planned.

With IANS Inputs