MNS: Deshmukh faces attack from Rane

8220;As part of the Cabinet, I cannot question the CM8217;s decision. But one should not make statements only. An all-party meeting should have been convened to discuss the situation. But there appears to be no seriousness. The Deputy CM is making his own statements. He talks about bullet for bullet as if it is a border issue,8221; Rane told The Indian Express when asked for his views about the CM8217;s handling of the situation.

Rane had earlier stated that while Raj Thackeray8217;s stance on the Marathi issue was right, his methods were wrong. A strong proponent of 8220;Marathi asmita pride8221;, Rane said on Wednesday, 8220;Maharashtra8217;s name is being maligned. Not just Marathis, but everybody had a role in the progress and development of Maharashtra. The government must convince people that it will provide security to everybody.8221;

The CM seems to have detractors at the party headquarters as well. Many senior leaders believe that Deshmukh had treated the MNS8217; threat with kid gloves and Raj Thackeray should have been reined in much earlier.

8220;Deshmukh believed he would pit Raj Thackeray against Uddhav Thackeray and thus neutralise both. If this issue flares up further, the party will have to pay not only in Maharashtra, but across the country,8221; said a senior Congress leader.

AICC spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan, however, gave a clean chit to the CM. Asserting that the Congress would remain true to its 8220;core values8221; of a united India and would not remain a mute spectator to any attempt at 8220;regional chauvinism8221;, she said that Deshmukh had not 8220;gone against any core values8221;.