Reacting to the arrest of Union Minister Narayan Rane on Tuesday, 24 August, over his remarks about giving 'a tight slap' to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda said in a tweet, "The arrest of Union Minister Narayan Rane ji by the Maharashtra government is a violation of constitutional values. We will neither be scared nor suppressed by such action."
Nadda added, "These people are troubled by the immense support the BJP is getting in the Jan-Aashirvad Yatra. We will continue to fight democratically, the journey will continue. (sic)"
Former CM of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis also condemned the arrest, saying that Rane's arrest was "absolute vendetta", a "gross use of police force", and "police suppression."
Terming it as "their (MVA government's) Hindutva" he contrasted Rane's arrest with student leader Sharjeel Usmani, who had recorded a statement regarding a speech made during the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune in January.
Other BJP Ministers React
Echoing Nadda and Fadnavis, Uttar Pradesh Minister Sidharth Nath Singh also strongly condemned the arrest. "A completely unconstitutional method is being adopted in Maharashtra," he wrote in Hindi.
Additionally, Union minister Mahendra Nath Pandey said, “Today Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) took a condemnable step… Shiv Sena and its CM hold grudges (against BJP). hat’s why this illegal step… This is a serious matter," news agency ANI rpeorted.
Meanwhile, calling the arrest a "clear example of an emperor who is drunk with power and against any law of land", Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai wrote on Twitter:
On the other hand, as protests erupted in Maharashtra against Rane's remarks, Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Vinayak Raut demanded that Rane should "show some respect for the Constitution" and step down as union minister after being arrested, news agency PTI reported.
'This Is a Political Rivalry'
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said, "I don't support Narayan Rane's statement. But if he's arrested or arrest warrant is issued against him for remarks against CM, what's happening to their leaders who comment against Governor, a constitutional functionary, almost daily", ANI reported.
Patil added that the arrest warrant against Rane shows that the MVA govt is scared. This is a political rivalry."
Further, Maharashtra BJP MLC Prasad Lad was quoted as saying, "Police pushed Narayan Rane while he was having his lunch. He is nearly 70. Should a person of such age be treated like this? We feel there is a threat to his life."
Union Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey said, "Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) took a condemnable step. Shiv Sena and its CM hold grudges (against BJP). That's why this an illegal step. This is a serious matter," ANI reported.
Background
During his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in adjoining Raigad district, Rane had said, "It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of our 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,” PTI reported.
The BJP leader and former Shiv Sena Chief Minister Rane claimed that Thackeray, after forgetting the year of India's independence during his 15 August address, had to check the same with his aides in the middle of the speech.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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