Union Minister Narayan Rane faces arrest for his 'slap' remarks against Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai, Aug 24: An FIR has been registered against Union Minister Narayan Rane at Chaturshringi Police Station of Pune city, for using objectionable language against Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on Monday. The FIR has been registered under sections 153 and 505 of IPC.

Nashik Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey have issued orders for the immediate arrest of Union minister Narayan Rane after an FIR was registered against him in the north Maharashtra city/

Accordingly, a team of Nashik Police left in the morning for Ratnagiri district, where Rane is currently carrying out his ''Jan Ashirwad Yatra''.

Rane has kicked off a row over his remarks about slapping Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for what he claimed as the latter's ignorance of the year of India's independence.

"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," Rane said during his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in adjoining Raigad district on Monday.

The BJP leader and former Shiv Sena chief minister claimed Thackeray forgot the year of independence during his August 15 address to the people of the state. Thackeray had to check the year of independence with his aides midway during the speech that day, Rane said.

Rane's remarks drew sharp reactions from Shiv Sena, whose workers put several posters in Mumbai and other places, calling him a 'kombdi chor' (chicken stealer), a reference to the poultry shop he ran in Chembur five decades ago, during his initial stint with the Bal Thackeray-led party.

Shiv Sena's Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg MP Vinayak Raut said Rane has lost his mental balance.

"To impress BJP leadership, Rane has been attacking Shiv Sena and its leaders. He lost his mental balance after his induction into the Modi-led ministry. Modi should show him the door," Raut said.