Rane gives unity call for Maharashtra leaders

In a bid to counter the efforts by leaders from Bihar to put up a united front on the issue of MNS attacks on north Indians, it was the turn of Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane on Tuesday to forge unity among state leaders against what he called 8220;politicisation of the issue8221;. Rane was in the Capital to inspect the attack on Maharashtra Sadan on Monday here.

8220;Political leaders from Bihar are engaging in politics on this issue anti-north Indian violence. I want to urge the political leaders from Maharashtra to stand united on this issue too. I said it earlier in Nashik as well,8221; Rane said. Though he did not mention the MNS, Rane took a potshot at Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, saying he was even ready to resign from the Government on the issue.

8220;I am neither the chief minister of the state nor the party chief in the state. Still I am ready to resign from my post on this issue,8221; Rane said in an apparent attack on Deshmukh8217;s silence on the political heat being raised by leaders from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

He reiterated his earlier position that the 8220;Marathi manoos8221; should get the preference in jobs located in Maharashtra.

Rane8217;s statement followed Congress8217; defence of the 8220;Marathi manoos8221; plank and the 8220;son-of-the-soil8221; policy minus the violence against outsiders.