BJP Supporting Those Who Insult Maharashtra's Pride? Asks Sena's Sanjay Raut

Narayan Rane, a BJP MP, was arrested on August 24 after his "would have slapped Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for the latter's ignorance of the year of India's independence" remarks kicked up a huge row.

Amid a bitter feud between his party and Union minister Narayan Rane, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday wondered whether BJP leadership is supporting those people who insult Maharashtra's pride and self-respect. Mr Raut, the executive editor of the party mouthpiece ''Saamana'', said in his weekly column that apart from Maharashtra BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Chandrakant Patil, Central leaders like BJP president JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah had reportedly called up Mr Rane to express their support to him. "If this is true then it is an insult to Maharashtra's self-respect and pride. Why does Delhi stand in support of those who insult Maharashtra's pride and self-respect?" Mr Raut asked. Mr Rane, a BJP MP, was arrested on August 24 after his "would have slapped Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for the latter's ignorance of the year of India's independence" remarks kicked up a huge row.