Rane attacks Sena for opposing Jaitapur nuclear project

“According to our information,that political party is Shiv Sena and the input is being probed,” Rane,a former chief minister with a strong support base in the Konkan region where the project is coming up,told the House.

Shiv Sena’s public meeting in Jaitapur,originally slated for April 3 was postponed to April 9 after a sum was paid as advance,he alleged.

“Party (Sena) leaders have gone on vacation after taking the money,” Rane said in an apparent reference to Sena’s executive president Uddhav Thackeray,who was on a vacation at Kanha National Park when a protester was killed at Jaitapur in police firing on Monday.

Shiv Sena,which is against the 9900 MW project,had called a shut-down against the incident on Tuesday.

“Those living in glass houses should not throw stones at others,” Rane said.

Shiv Sena members were not present in the House when Rane made the allegation.

Sena legislature party leader Subhash Desai rushed to the House in a few minutes and demanded that the minister prove his allegation and sought expunction of Rane’s remarks.

However,the Speaker said even when the remarks were expunged,they were repeated outside for the benefit of TV channels. Leader of the Opposition Eknath Khadse and BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar also objected to the Rane’s charge.