Would have slapped CM Uddhav Thackeray: Minister Narayan Rane

Mumbai : Union minister Narayan Rane on Tuesday sparked off a row as he said that he would have slapped 'ignorant' Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Shiv Sena has filed an FIR and it is being speculated that Mr Rane may be arrested over the remarks against the chief minister. According to some media reports, Nashik police team has already departed for Chiplun in Konkan region to arrest Mr Rane. 

"It 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 slap," Mr Rane said during his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in adjoining Raigad district on Monday.

The BJP leader claimed that Mr Thackeray forgot the year of independence during his August 15 address to the people of the state. Mr Thackeray had to check the year of independence with his aides midway during the speech that day, Mr Rane said.

A sharp reaction came from Shiv Sena and they called him 'kombdi chor'' (chicken stealer), a reference to the poultry shop he ran in Chembur five decades ago.

Shiv Sena's Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg MP Vinayak Raut said Mr Rane has lost his mental balance.

"To impress BJP leadership, Rane has been attacking Shiv Sena and its leaders. He lost his mental balance after his induction into the Modi-led ministry. Modi should show him the door," Mr Raut said.