Rane cornered on the eve of 55th birthday

Mumbai, Apr 9 (UNI) Even as supporters of Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane have put up posters all over the city to celebrate his 55th birthday tomorrow, opposition members in both the houses of the state legislature today cornered him on police registering an offence against him for allegedly assaulting activists of the Shiv Sena at katol on Saturday.

The offence was registered against Rane and Subodh Mohite, congress candidate from Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency, on the last day of electioneering on April 7. The voting for the bypoll was held today.

Rane's former party colleagues, Shiv sena members were in the forefront in both the houses, cornering him on the issue and were supported by BJP.

''We are going to meet the Governor S M Krishna tomorrow demanding to remove Mr Rane from the cabinet in the backdrop of criminal case filed against him and alleged desecretion of portrait of Shivaji Maharaj at Katol'', said the leader of the oppositon Ramdas Kadam while talking to reporters.

''I have also given the same momorandum to the chief minister and deputy chief minister'', he said.

''We will also disrupt the proceedings of the house and till our demands are met or else we wil even come on the road for the same'', said Mr Kadam.

He said the CD of the roadshow in which Rane is allegedly seen inciting his followers to attack sena workers has been submitted to the speaker.

However, Mr Rane refuted allegations that he had incited Congress workers to attack Shiv Sena activists and destroy a portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He lambasted the Sena for defaming the Legendary Maratha warrior king for its own political gains.

''What can be expected of a person who puts mud on the statue of his own mother for his political interests. Can he respect national figures'', Mr Rane said while talking to reporters without naming Sena Executive president Uddhav Thackeray. He was recalling last year's incident, where Mumbai witnessed sporadic violence to protest the desecration of Meenatai Thackeray's statue at Shivaji Park.

UNI