Narayan Rane's 'Tight Slap' Remark Against CM Thackeray For Forgetting India's Independence Year Sparks Row; Shiv Sena Files FIR

The Union Minister, who hails from the state, is currently on a 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' from Mumbai to Sindhudurg and the alleged comments came during a rally in Chiplun (Ratnagiri) on Monday night.

In the rally Rane remarked, “It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given him a tight slap.”

Irate Shiv Sena and Yuva Sena activists retaliated by erecting a hoarding in Dadar with a picture of Rana and a cocky caption -- 'Kombdi Chor' (Chicken Thief) -- and others lodged police complaints against him in Pune, Nashik and Raigad districts.

While Sena and its affiliated wings have reacted sharply to Rane's comments, the local BJP leaders sought to defend him saying it was made in a typical 'Thackeray-style language'.

This is the second major brush between the former allies turned enemies BJP-Sena in a week. Last Wednesday, Sena activists 'cleaned and purified' the late Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial at Shivaji Park after Rane paid obeisance there prior to launching his yatra.

However, despite the police complaints, Rane's team has made it clear that the ongoing 'Yatra' will continue undisturbed till 27 August as originally planned.

With IANS Inputs