'Slap Uddhav' row: A new front opens in the Shiv Sena-BJP war

Following the slap remark, police complaints were lodged against Narayan Rane in Mahad, Pune, Aurangabad and Nashik

In an unprecedented event that is set to impact Maharashtra politics, the police arrested Union Minister Narayan Rane on Tuesday on charges of making an inappropriate remark against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The arrest led to clashes between BJP and Shiv Sena workers in Mumbai and several other places. The arrest followed protests and a war of words between the friends-turned-foes. Rane was granted bail late last night.

On Monday, during his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Mahad, Rane had allegedly mentioned something about a tight slap to Uddhav Thackeray.

Following this remark, police complaints were lodged against Rane, the minister for micro, small and medium enterprises, in Mahad, Pune, Aurangabad and Nashik. Police teams were sent to detain him at some of these places. But Sangameshwar (Ratnagiri district) police detained Rane in the afternoon and later handed him to Mahad police. Rane didn't get anticipatory bail from the courts. He was produced before a court for bail late Tuesday evening.

Also read: Mumbai: Shiv Sena, BJP workers clash in Juhu over Narayan Rane's 'slap' remark; five cops injuredShiv Sena workers pelted the BJP office with stones in Thane. Pics/PTI

Earlier in the day, Rane, who had quit the Sena in 2005 over differences with Uddhav Thackeray, refuted the charge, and challenged the Sena-led MVA government to act against him. "I know the IPC sections they have slapped against me. The police are acting at the behest of the people who are jealous of me. I will fight in the court," he said, adding why no objections were raised or action taken when CM Thackeray had openly talked about slapping a BJP legislator Prasad Lad, who had said the Sena Bhavan will be attacked. Political action began early Tuesday when sainiks gathered in the streets, in front of Rane's Juhu residence and BJP offices in several cities and towns. The Sena workers protested their former party colleague's remarks. Police had to use force to disperse the mob in Juhu. In some places, the BJP offices were pelted with stones.

BJP legislator Prasad Lad, who accompanied Rane during his public outreach programme Jan Aashirvad Yatra in Konkan, accused the police of manhandling the union minister for micro, small and medium enterprise. "The Ratnagiri police chief said he was under pressure from a state minister and departmental seniors to arrest Rane immediately. The police didn't allow Rane to finish his lunch, and undergo a medical check-up for hypertension and diabetes. I see a threat to Rane's life," Lad said in a video statement he issued after Rane was detained at Goliwali near Sangameshwar. Rane has been charged in Nashik under IPC sections 500 (defamation), 505(2) (mischief), 153-B (1)(c) (remarks likely to cause disharmony, or feeling of enmity or hatred or ill-will). The Pune police slapped sections 153 and 505 of IPC against him. The details of cases in Mahad and Aurangabad were not available.

Shiv Sena's Yuva Sena activists stage a protest with a chicken against Narayan Rane, near the mental hospital in Thane on Tuesday

BJP doesn't endorse, but

Ex-CM and opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis said the party did not endorse Rane's remarks, but will stand behind the minister for fighting the ‘unruly' government which misused power to act against him while letting other offenders free.

"The CM is an important post, and we think that one has to follow restraint while speaking about a CM. There are other ways of protesting when a CM forgets about the significance of the Independence Day while making a speech," he said. "They did not show such swiftness when Sharjeel Usmani spoke against the country and Hindus. And now the entire police force is out to arrest Rane in a non-cognizable offence. Some in the police are doing it to appease the government and defame their honest counterparts. The courts will prove their action wrong in this case as well," said Fadnavis.

A grab from a video before Rane's arrest tweeted by BJP legislator Prasad Lad who claimed Rane was not allowed to finish lunch

"The Sena workers told television channels that they pelted stones because the CM told them to do so. Nothing happens when you call people shameless, ask sainiks to kick people and say chaukidar chor hai. Why such double standards? Is this Taliban? We will protest in front of the CP offices if our offices are attacked and the culprits are not arrested," Fadnavis added further.

BJP national president J P Nadda said the arrest was unconstitutional. In a tweet, he said his party will not buckle under pressure tactics. "Some people are worried because of a huge response to the Aashirvad Yatra which will continue. We will fight it out democratically," he said.

BJP legislator Ashish Shelar said the BJP will finish the matter that the Sena has started. "Stop this tamasha or else the responsibility will be yours," he said.

Sena, MVA slam Rane

Shiv Sena chief spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut said the BJP had changed. "The CM's office isn't just a chair but an institution. You can criticise it politically but using language like Rane is not acceptable. What has happened to the BJP that we know for many years? We didn't see their leaders behave like this," he said, while insisting that the law will take its course, notwithstanding the status of the accused.

Sena MP Vinayak Raut wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the sacking of Rane from the cabinet.

MVA partners strongly criticised Rane. State NCP president Jayant Patil said the personal grudges the BJP had against Thackeray could be understood, but the use of such language will not be accepted by Maharashtra. "Some people in politics have stooped to a new low. The PM and BJP should tell us whether they endorse such behaviour," said Patil. State Congress chief Nana Patole said the party was happy to have so many ministers from Maharashtra in the Modi's team who would be beneficial for the state, but it now emerges that some of them are making statements that create unrest and deface the state's great culture.