"Must Not Test Our Patience": Eknath Shinde's Retort To Maratha Quota Activist

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange must not test the patience of his government after the latter made wild allegations against Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Eknath Shinde also took a swipe at the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar chief Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (UBT) while responding to Jarange.

Speaking in Antarwali Sarati earlier in the day, Jarange said Fadnavis was trying to kill him.

Jarange had also said a poisoning attempt was made against him through saline, though he did not elaborate on the claim.

"Those who are protesting again and again against the government must not test our patience. They should not create a law and order problem. I wonder why Jarange's speech looks like the script generally used by Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray," Shinde said.

He was speaking to reporters on the eve of the session of the Maharashtra legislature.

Asked about Jarange's aggressive stand and the use of expletives in his speeches, Shinde said action would be taken as per law.

It is a conspiracy in progress and it would be exposed soon, the Chief Minister added.

Earlier, Fadnavis said the state government has a fair idea about the people behind Jarange, adding that details would come out at an appropriate time.

Asked about Jarange's announcement that he would march to Mumbai to protest in front of Fadnavis' bungalow, the deputy CM said it was his official residence and anyone with any kind of work can visit it.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)