Union minister Narayan Rane arrested over 'slap Uddhav' remark: Who said what

NEW DELHI:

Union minister

Narayan Rane on Tuesday was arrested after sparking off a row over his remarks about slapping Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray for what he claimed was the latter's ignorance of the year of India's independence.

Rane was taken into custody by police in coastal Ratnagiri district, where he is travelling as part of the Jan Ashirwad Yatra.

Rane was taken to the

Sangameshwar

police station after being taken into custody, the official said.

“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 in adjoining Raigad district on Monday.

Here's who said what on this issue:
JP Nadda: BJP chief JP Nadda in a tweet said the Maharashtra government's decision to arrest Narayan Rane is against constitutional values and we won't be cowed down by such actions.



Devendra Fadnavis: Former Maharashtra chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis slammed the Maharashtra government for using the police to suppress the Opposition in the state.

"We do not support Narayan Rane's statements. But looking at the way the government is using police force to act in a lawless manner, we will support Rane as an individual and the whole party is with him," he said.

Alleging that the state police force was being used as a tool for "vendetta politics", he said there should be law and order and "not Taliban-like governance".

Chandrakant Patil: Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil distanced himself from Rane's remarks and said he doesn't support Narayan Rane's statement.

“I am not defending Rane's comments, but I will also not express regret," Patil said.

Mahendra Nath Pandey: Union minister Mahendra Nath Pandey said that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) took a condemnable step today. Shiv Sena and its CM hold grudges against BJP, that's why this illegal step. It's is a serious matter, he said.

Ramdas Athawale: Union minister Ramdas Athawale said Rane didn't intend to insult Thackeray and will clarify his statement.

"Rane only meant that Thackeray is not doing anything for the development of Maharashtra and he seldom steps out of his residence 'Matoshree' in Mumbai to understand the problems faced by the people. Rane meant that such a chief minister does not have the right to occupy the chair. This was his feeling," he said.

Vinayak Raut: Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut demanded that BJP leader Narayan Rane should "show some respect for the Constitution" and step down as Union minister after being arrested.

Raut wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the sacking of Rane over his remarks against the Maharashtra chief minister.

(With agency inputs)