‘Similar statement about PM would lead to sedition charges’

“Rane, who sits next to PM Modi, has attacked the Maharashtra Chief Minister through his language. Considering Rane’s past records, the PM and Home Minister Amit Shah should take his statement seriously. Had anyone made a similar statement about the PM, he would have been put behind bars with sedition charges slapped. Rane’s offence is of similar kind,” the editorial said.

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— Saamana (@SaamanaOnline) August 25, 2021

Rane was arrested on Tuesday by the Maharashtra Police for threatening to “slap” Thackeray. He was released on bail in Mahad, Raigad, nearly nine hours after his arrest. District officials said there are four other FIRs against him in the state. The BJP rallied behind Rane, claiming that while it did not agree with his remarks, his arrest was in violation of the constitutional procedures.

The editorial added that the BJP would have to pay a heavy price for their way of handling the issue. “The Devendra Fadnavis government jailed some intellectuals just on the charge of plotting to assassinate PM Modi. Here it seems that Rane has taken ‘supari’ (contract) to attack the CM.”

The Sena said despite being given the post of a Union minister, Rane has been behaving like a “roadside gangster”. “Using the language of physically assaulting the CM of Maharashtra is like hurting the sentiments of the 105 martyrs of the Samyukta (united) Maharashtra movement,” it said.

Criticising BJP leaders Fadnavis and Chandrakant Patil for supporting Rane, the editorial said, “Any cultured leader would have apologised to Maharashtra putting an end to the matter. Because nobody is above the state’s pride. But for the BJP, Maharashtra’s pride and prestige of the chief minister are insignificant.” On Rane’s bail, Shiv Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav said Rane believed that he could talk anything about anyone and get away with it.

“Destiny taught him a lesson. His Jan Ashirwad Yatra was meant only to abuse Uddhavji and the Shiv Sena. Rane should remember that use of such language will no longer be accepted in Maharashtra as per the law and the constitution.”