India News | BJP MPs from Maha to Meet LS Speaker over Violation of Narayan Rane's Rights: Chandrakant Patil

Pune, Aug 24 (PTI) BJP MPs from Maharashtra will submit a memorandum to Speaker of Lok Sabha over the "violation" of rights of Union minister and Rajya Sabha MP Narayan Rane, who was arrested on Tuesday for his remarks against state Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, state BJP president Chandrakant Patil said.

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Speaking to reporters here, Patil alleged that Rane was arrested by the police without a warrant.

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He also alleged that Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab had asked police to use "force" while arresting Rane.

"As an MP, Narayan Rane's special rights were violated (due to the police action). BJP MPs from Maharashtra will approach the Lok Sabha speaker and submit a memorandum,"Patil said.

He said Shiv Sena leader and minister Anil Parab had asking to use force (while arresting Rane) which is recorded in a video clip.

Rane was arrested on Tuesday afternoon over his "would have slapped chief minister Uddhav Thackeray" remark and was taken to Mahad in the Raigad district where he is likely to be produced before a court, Maharashtra police sources said.

Cases were registered against the BJP leader at Mahad in coastal Raigad district as well as at Nashik and Pune as his controversial remark accusing Thackeray of not knowing the year of India's independence set off angry protests by workers of the ruling Shiv Sena.

He was taken into custody at Galavali in the Ratnagiri district during his 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra', and first taken to Sangameshwar police station.

The First Information Report at Mahad has been registered under IPC sections 189 (threat of injury to public servant), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of public peace), and 505 (statements conducive to public mischief).

Patil said BJP will make all possible efforts to ensure the release of Rane, whom the Bombay High Court refused to grant any relief earlier in the day.

Rane is likely to be produced before court at Mahad either on Tuesday or Wednesday, police sources had said.

"We hope the court will pass an appropriate order," Patil said.

He said BJP cadres in Maharashtra have been asked to agitate against Rane's arrest.

Responding to a query, Patil said BJP's image is not at all damaged by the remarks made by Rane but on the contrary the party has got a leader who believes in giving a "tit for tat" reply.

Patil said the BJP and the entire country is standing with Rane.

He said Rane's behaviour was not "uncultured" and he has not committed any act that can affect the "cultural" face of the BJP.

"Rane has not done anything wrong. Due to his statements, the BJP's image is not getting spoiled. The entire country is standing with Rane," the state BJP chief said.

Patil said the BJP is all-inclusive.

"The BJP absorbs everybody who joins the party. After becoming a member of the BJP, all live happily in the party," the former state minister said.

Patil said though BJP is not in power for the last 20 months, no leader left the party.

"You will be surprised how big stalwarts (who have joined the BJP) have adjusted themselves with the BJP's culture," he said.

When asked if Rane's working style would change in future and how will BJP deal with it, Patil said Rane cannot bear injustice.

"Though it is true that due to Rane, the BJP has got an aggressive face but there is no dearth of aggressive leaders in our party. We can say that due to Rane, we got a leadership which believes in giving 'tit for tat answer'," he said.

Patil said Rane is an "asset" for the BJP and that is why he was inducted into the Union cabinet.

"The Maharashtra government is scared as Rane's 'Jan Ashirvad Yatra' was getting a huge response, which triggered today's action (against Rane)," he claimed.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena workers burst crackers outside the BJP's office in Pune. A separate protest was also staged by workers of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is part of the MVA government, against Rane's remarks.

The Pune city unit of BJP also staged a demonstration.

Earlier in the day, Sena activists released hens in the office of BJP in Pune city.

Sena workers have put up several posters in Mumbai and other places, calling him a ‘kombdi chor' (chicken stealer), a reference to the poultry shop he ran in suburban Chembur in Mumbai five decades ago, during his initial stint with the Bal Thackeray-led party.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)