RR Patil-Rane verbal spat intensifies

The verbal jostling between senior Congress minister Narayan Rane and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ministers, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and home minister RR Patil intensified further on Thursday.

The verbal jostling between senior Congress minister Narayan Rane and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ministers, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and home minister RR Patil intensified further on Thursday.

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Patil alleged that one of Rane’s sons had misused security cover, and police recommendation to reduce this security cover had been overruled through the chief minister’s office.

Patil said: “I don’t think anyone in the NCP goes around with security cover to threaten people. The police had complained against one of Rane’s sons but recommendation to reduce his guards was overruled following instruction from the CM’s office.”

The recent mudslinging started with Rane terming his public rally as ‘vastraharan’ aimed at exposing Pawar’s involvement in land scams. He alleged that Pawar was behind the recent riots at Vengurla and had failed to control crime even in his home district.

Pawar on Thursday said that if Rane proved these allegations true, he and Patil would quit politics but if Rane couldn’t, he should exit.

Congress state party president Manikrao Thakre distanced himself from this controversy. “Rane’s comments are personal and do not reflect the party’s thoughts. Ideally, senior leaders of the coalition should desist from such remarks,” said Thakre.