Union Minister Narayan Rane was arrested over his comment on slapping Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for what he called his "ignorance of the year India won Independence." Rane, a BJP leader who joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet in July as Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, is the first central minister to be arrested in 20 years. His arrest has become the new flashpoint between allies-turned-rivals Sena and BJP.
The minister was arrested while he was having his meal, shortly after the Bombay High Court rejected his request for an urgent hearing on his petition for protection against action. He will be produced before a court in Raigad district. Rane's lawyer told the court: "The police have arrived to arrest him, they are waiting at his doorstep." The High Court responded: "Please follow the procedure. Don't make us do the job of the registry."
The Chief Minister's Shiv Sena had filed cases against Rane over his remarks on Monday at a "Jan Ashirwad Yatra" organised nationwide by the BJP. He claimed Thackeray forgot the year of independence during his August 15 address and had to check with his aide mid-speech.
"It is shameful that the Chief Minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to ask about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given him a tight slap," Rane said in the public meeting. The comments sparked Shiv Sena protests and FIRs were filed in three cities listing non-bailable offences.
Rane had lashed out at the media for reporting his ''imminent arrest'', saying he was no ordinary man. "I haven't committed any crime. You should verify and show it on TV or else I will file a case against you (media). Despite not committing any crime, the media is showing speculative news about my 'imminent' arrest. Do you think I am a normal (ordinary) man?" he had said.
The Sena alleged that Rane, a former leader of the party, deliberately made the remarks to provoke tension in Maharashtra. Clashes erupted as Sena members marching towards Rane's home in Mumbai, carrying flags and shouting slogans, were stopped by BJP workers. Sena workers also targeted BJP offices in cities like Nashik. The BJP's Devendra Fadnavis said he didn't support Rane's comments but compared the police action to the Taliban.
Sena MP Vinayak Raut demanded his removal from the central government. "To impress the 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," Raut said.