Rane refutes desecration allegation of Shivaji photo

Mumbai, Apr 9: Refuting allegations that he had incited Congress workers to attack Shiv Sena activists and destroy a portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane today lambasted the Shiv 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 asked while talking to reporters without naming Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray recalling last year's incident where Mumbai witnessed sporadic violence protesting the desecration of Meenatai Thackeray statue at Shivaji Park.

Launching a scathing attack on his erstwhile party, Mr Rane described the move of the Shiv Sena to disrupt the proceedings of the Legislature over the FIR filed against him in Katol situated in the Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency on April 7, as a desperate attempt to gain attention. ''They know that their party stands no chance of winning the by-election which is taking place today,''he added.

The Revenue Minister said Shiv Sena leaders did not know the difference between a complaint and an FIR.

''Today in the Legislative Assembly, the Sena wasted time in reading out contents of the false complaint. The FIR has been registered under sections 147, 448, 427, 336, 294, 506, 135, 323 and 109. The Shiv Sena leaders, who filed the complaint, demanded that the case be filed under sections 307 and 395,''he added.

Mr Rane alleged that on the last day of campaigning for his roadshow on April 7, Shiv Sena workers raised slogans against him and the Congress, threw sticks and stones on their party office and made indecent gestures.

''After my open jeep moved ahead, there was a clash between the Congress and Sena workers. Police resorted to a lathicharge. I got down from my car and urged the police to take action against those who were disrupting the roadshow. I left the venue immediately,''he said and asked how it was possible for him or the Congress activists to go inside the Shiv Sena office and destroy a photograph of Shivaji maharaj by breaking the police cordon.

''I cannot even think of damaging the photograph of Shivaji Maharaj. I am a true Maratha,''he said.

UNI