Narayan Rane
Union Cabinet Minister Narayan Rane arrested for 'slap' remark against Uddhav Thckeray
New Delhi: Union Minister Narayan Rane was arrested on Tuesday for his 'slap' remark against Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thakceray.
Narayan Rane, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, was arrested after a sessions court in Ratnagiri rejected his transit anticipatory bail application.
He had joined the PM Narendra Modi-led Cabinet in July as Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
He became the first Cabinet minister to be arrested in the past 20 years.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said that the party stands with Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane, but unequivocally rejected his slap slur against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said that the party stands solidly behind Rane and accused the Maha Vikas Aghadi government of 'misusing' the police to target the BJP leaders.
Addressing the media, he said that the party does not endorse Rane's comment threatening to 'slap' the CM, but also would not tolerate any attempts by the MVA government to slap 'cognisable offences' against the Union Minister.
"The statements may attract non-cognisable charges, but they are illegally trying to make it 'cognisable'," Fadnavis asserted.
He further said that following the arrrest of Rane, the ongoing 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' will not be halted and it would be continued forward by others like Leader of Opposition (Council) Pravin Darekar, Ashish Shelar, etc.
'The state government is taking prompt steps against Rane. But they did not show such speed to act vis-à-vis Sharjeel Usman who abused Bharat Mata and Hindutva in Maharashtra. MVA has no courage.' Fadnavis said.
BJP president JP Nadda, said the arrest of Union Minister Narayan Rane by the Ratnagiri police is a violation of constitutional values.
“We will neither be scared nor suppressed by such action,” he said in a tweet on Tuesday.
The party president said, “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.” he added.
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