BJP's "Narayan Rane Is A Dog", Says Shiv Sena MLA

Amid a row over Union minister Narayan Rane's remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, a Shiv Sena MLA has attacked the former, saying that he is a "dog" kept by the BJP to attack others, but would ultimately bite his own party.

Sena MLA Santosh Bangar, who represents Kalamnuri Assembly constituency in Hingoli district of Maharashtra, made the remarks in his home district on Tuesday night on the sidelines of a protest against Mr Rane.

The legislator also called Mr Rane a dog of "pug" breed.

"Narayan Rane is not a human being, he is a dog. He is an offspring of pug dog. He was rejected by the people of Konkan and Mumbai. Now 'Beimaan Janata Party' (referring to the Bharatiya Janata Party) has domesticated this dog to attack others. But I want to tell the BJP that it should beware of this dog as it will bite you...He could never belong to anyone, so how can he be yours?" Mr Bangar, who is also Sena's district president, alleged.

He also criticised Mr Rane by saying, "Even if you spit on the sun, it won't reach there. The sun can't be covered with two hands. The world has seen that our CM (Uddhav Thackeray) is the best."

Mr Bangar warned Narayan Rane and said, "We have the strength to come and bash you at your house. Keep your police protection aside. I will come alone and make you bite the dust..."

The Sena MLA said if someone speaks wrong things against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, it would not be tolerated.

Narayan Rane had said during the "Jan Ashirwad Yatra" of his party on Monday that he would have slapped Mr Thackeray over the latter's "ignorance" of the year of India's independence. His remarks kicked up a row and Mr Rane was arrested on Tuesday afternoon and taken to Mahad in Raigad district, 165 km from Mumbai, where an FIR was registered against him over the remark. However, he was granted bail by a court at Mahad late night.

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