Won't defend, but also won't express regret over Narayan Rane's remarks: Maharashtra BJP chief

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil on Tuesday distanced himself from Union minister Narayan Ranes remarks about slapping Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for what he claimed as the latterrsquos ignorance of the year of Indiarsquos independenceldquoI am not defending Ranes comments but I will also not express regret Patil told a regional news channelThere is speculation that Rane may be arrested over the remarks against the chief minister Some reports said a team of Nashik police has left for Chiplun in Konkan region where Rane is present now after a complaint against the Union minister over the remarksPatil wondered how a state could plan to arrest a Union minister Is there no administrative procedure he askedldquoPeople who are pointing fingers at Rane should not forget that there have been several instances of Uddhav Thackeray using inflammatory languagerdquo the BJP leader saidAlso Read Narayan Ranersquos lsquowould have slappedrsquo comment about Uddhav Thackeray draws Sena ireOn Monday during his lsquoJan Ashirwad Yatrarsquo in adjoining Raigad district Rane said ldquoIt 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 slapThe 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 saidMumbai BJP MLA Ram Kadam defended the Union minister and said Rane is known for his aggressiveness There could be a difference of opinion over his choice of wordsrdquoHe alleged that from the day of commencement of the Jan Ashirwad Yatra the Thackerayled Maharashtra government was trying to misuse power and hinder Ranes rallyThis is cheating by the state government The state government is scared because of the massive response garnered by his rallyrdquo the legislator told a news channelHe also claimed that Thackeray as CM had earlier made controversial statements and also used inflammatory language However it was conveniently ignored by people as well as the state machineryrdquo Kadam saidBJP leader Pramod Jathar who is coordinating Ranes yatra in Ratnagiri district said ldquoRanes language is similar to that of late Balasaheb Thackeray the founder of Shiv Sena The Jan Ashirwad Yatra will continue for surerdquoAsked about Ranes remarks he said ldquoCM Thackeray forgetting the year of independence is more insulting Rane only expressed feelings of the common manrdquoHowever NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik claimed the BJP was trying disturb the harmony in Maharashtra and said there will be repercussions if a person makes controversial remarksThe state will not accept this kind of language Rane has not only insulted CM Thackeray but also the people of this state If a person makes controversial remarks there will be repercussionsrdquo said Malik whose party shares power with the Shiv Sena and Congress in MaharashtraHe also claimed that the BJP was trying to do politics like it did in West Bengal by inciting violenceThe BJP must understand that Maharashtra will not get into it he addedMeanwhile a case has been registered against Rane at Chatushringi police station in Pune over his remarksPunes Deputy Commissioner of Police Mitesh Ghatte said An offence has been registered against Rane under IPC Sections 153 wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot and 505 statements conducing to public mischief following a complaint by an officebearer of the Yuva Sena the Shiv Senas youth wingThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever