Shiv Sena demands Rane's immediate arrest

Mumbai, Apr 17 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Ramdas Kadam today demanded immediate arrest of Revenue Minister Narayan Rane for his alleged role in the pre-poll violence during the campaigning for the Ramtek lok sabha by-election.

Referring to the Revenue Minister as a 'goonda', Mr Kadam said the ex-Sena leader had no right to sit in the Legislative Assembly after damaging a photo of Chhatrapati Shivaji He was initiating the debate on the opposition sponsored resolution on law and order situation in the state.

Mr Kadam also warned the Government of ''dire consequences'' if Mr Rane was not put behind bars immediately. He alleged a portion of the CD used for filming the election campaign, where Mr Rane is allegedly making gestures to his supporters to attack Shiv sainiks in Katol, has been erased.

He also cited an example of Mr Rane's reported comments during an election campaign where he spoke about use of swords in response to a remark made by Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil.

''You are lucky to be safe. Our Ramesh Govekar (shiv sainik from Malvan is missing since the by-election to the legislative assembly since November 2005),''Mr Kadam said pointing out to Mr Patil, who was present in the House.

The Leader of opposition alleged that sticks and stones were found in Mr Rane's convoy vehicle when he visited Sangli.

Mr Kadam ridiculed the Deputy Chief Minister for attending Mr Rane's birthday party at the Shanmukhanand Hall on April ten.

Mr Kadam said rampant loadshedding in the state had given rise to incidents of crime. He said the Government should resign if it cannot provide relief to the rural population reeling under power cuts and tell them that they are incapable of generating a single mw of electricity.

BJP group leader Eknath Khadse said despite Government's assurances to tackle the growing power demand, shortfall is growing speedily. ''The situation in rural areas is very pitiable with people facing nearly 20 hours of loadshedding daily. Incidents of dacoity are rising and people cannot sleep peacefully in the night.

''incidence of malpractice by senior police officers is a cause of concern and the Deputy Chief Minister is unable to control the malaise. Former Mumbai police commissioner A N Roy published a book worth Rs 1350 by misusing the money of the police welfare fund and published pictures of gangsters like Dawood Ibrahim as well as Arun Gawli who is now member of the Legislative Assembly. I wonder who gave Roy to publish such a book,''he added.

Mr Vijay Waddetiwar of Congress, an ex-sena mla and supporter of Mr Rane criticised the Leader of opposition's comments against the Revenue Minister. ''Shiv Sena cannot see anything except Narayan Rane after he quit the party two years ago. Instead of calling Rane a 'goonda', Mr Kadam should look within and see the number of criminal cases against him including that of murder,'' he alleged.

Mr Waddetiwar, who hails from Chimur in Vidarbha region, called upon the government to take stern steps to counter naxal menace.

UNI