Not afraid of Sena; won't let Maharashtra become Bengal: Rane

Union Minister Narayan Rane on Wednesday asserted that he is not afraid of anyone, and thanked Bharatiya Janata Party leaders for standing behind him after his arrest for alleged "derogatory remarks" against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. 

Addressing media after getting bail from the local court in Mahad of Raigarh district, Rane said he will resume his Jan Ashirwad Yatra from Friday.

"I am not afraid of you (Shiv Sena). My party leaders have stood behind me and I want to thank them all. The Jan Ashirwad Yatra will resume from the day after tomorrow," said Rane.

The Union Minister added that he would not "allow" the West Bengal-like environment to be created in Maharashtra.

Attacking the Shiv Sena for its complaint against him, Rane reminded the party to "not forget" that he had a "big role in spreading Shiv Sena and making it big".

"The verdict in all cases (by Shiv Sena) filed against me in the Bombay high court has come in my favour. This is an indication that the country is run by laws," Rane said.

Speaking about his "slap" remark against Maharashtra Chief Minister, Rane further asserted that he has "not said anything wrong".

"But, if Devendra Fadvanis says it is wrong, then I will accept it, as he is our 'margdarshak' (guide)," Rane said.

Rane also slammed Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

"There were many incidents in the past where the Maharashtra chief minister has given controversial statements against the BJP leaders like MLC Prasad Lad, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and even against Amit Shah. The language used by the chief minister was not in right but nothing happens to him," Rane said.

Uddhav Thackeray also called Union Home Minister Amit Shah shameless. He even said he was using unparliamentary words deliberately to describe Shah. What a civilised language," Rane said.

Referring to Shiv Sena leaders referring to his alleged crimes, Rane said, "If I was a gangster according to the Sena, that party made me the chief minister. Was it ok with the party?"

"I will not sit quietly. We will use all parliamentary tools and legal powers and corner the MVA government in coming days," he said.

Asked about some Shiv Sena MLAs issuing verbal threats, Rane said, "I wonder whether they had ever killed a mouse."

The Union minister was arrested in Ratnagiri district after several FIRs were registered against him at many places including Nashik and Pune, based on the complaints filed by Shiv Sena leaders for his remarks against Thackeray.

Later, he was granted bail by the local court in Mahad of Raigad district.

Rane on Monday accused Thackeray of ignorance about the year of India's independence at an event and said "I would have given (him) a tight slap."

With inputs from PTI