Rane men vandalise newspaper office

On Thursday, Congressman Narayan Rane's supporters allegedly vandalised the office of a vernacular newspaper for mocking their leader in an editorial, reports Naresh Kamath.

On Thursday, Congressman Narayan Rane's supporters allegedly vandalised the office of a vernacular newspaper for mocking their leader in an editorial.

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This comes a day after 500 Shiv Sena workers, protesting against the sacking of 21 employees, vandalised and assaulted staffers of Intercontinental Hotel at Sahar.

In the editorial Shubh Bol Narya (Speak something good, Narya) Navakaal's executive editor Neelkanth Khadilkar lampooned Rane, his journey in the Sena and his flip-flops in the Congress.

At 12.15 pm, about 10 Rane supporters pelted stones at the Marathi newspaper's first-floor office in Girgaum and abused the staff. They fled before the police could reach the spot.

Defending the action of the supporters, Rane's son Nitesh said the editorial had violated all rules of journalism.

"This is not journalism where personal attacks are made with impunity. One has to remember Narayan Rane is a popular leader and his supporters acted spontaneously," said Nitesh. He warned that Rane's supporters "would not take things lying down”.

Navakaal chief reporter Bharat Kadam said: "It seems Rane is frustrated with the treatment meted out to him in the Congress and is resorting to such tactics."