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In the midst of deliberations regarding a no-confidence motion concerning Manipur in the Lok Sabha, intense verbal sparring unfolded between the ruling and opposing factions. Focusing on the Manipur issue, key figures such as Shrikant Shinde of Shiv Sena, Arvind Sawant representing the Thackeray camp, and Central Minister Narayan Rane from the BJP took center stage. Shinde took shots at the MVA alliance in Maharashtra during his address. Sawant, the MP for South Mumbai, retorted by labeling the Eknath Shinde group as ‘cowardly’ for evading the matter.
Narayan Rane, Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), became incensed by Sawant’s critique of Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Prime Minister Modi. Rane’s anger prompted him to employ strong language against the Shiv Sena MP.
Expressing his discontent, Rane stated that while listening to speeches on the no-confidence motion, Sawant’s discourse made him feel as if he were in Maharashtra’s Legislative Assembly rather than the Parliament House in Delhi.
Sawant responded vigorously to Shrikant Shinde’s stance on the no-confidence motion. During his speech, Sawant touched upon the subject of Hindutva. In reaction, Narayan Rane posed a question: “If there was such deep concern for Hindutva, why wasn’t it evident when he allied with Sharad Pawar in 2019?”
Continuing his argument, Rane questioned Sawant’s affiliation with the Shiv Sena, stating, “While he discusses Hindutva and the true essence of Shiv Sena, when did Arvind Sawant join the party? I have been a part of Shiv Sena since 1966.”
As Sawant rose to protest Rane’s comment, Rane sharply instructed him to sit down. Meanwhile, the Speaker, Rajendra Agarwal, urged Rane to refrain from personal remarks and to address the Chair instead.
Rane went on to remind Sawant of his “aukaat” (status) while warning him against commenting on PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He asserted that the Shiv Sena lacked the authority to criticize the Prime Minister and Home Minister, emphasizing that their focus should be on their standing in Maharashtra.
The sharpness of Rane’s remarks caused an uproar among opposition members, prompting the Speaker of the house to caution Rane against making “personal comments.”
Following Rane’s outburst in the Lok Sabha, numerous Shiv Sena UBT leaders took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to condemn the BJP Minister’s language.
Priyanka Chaturvedi, a Rajya Sabha MP from Shiv Sena (UBT), expressed dismay at Rane’s behavior, deeming it a reflection of the government’s low standards. Chaturvedi wrote, “This man is a minister. Here he is seen displaying the standard of this government and how low it can go.”
Shilpa Bodke, a spokesperson for Uddhav Thackeray’s faction, took a swipe at Rane, remarking, “After losing an election, BJP made him an MP. Look at his language in Lok Sabha.”
The Aam Aadmi Party also criticized Rane’s remarks and questioned the potential for his suspension due to the use of derogatory language. The party stated, “Minister Narayan Rane is making threats reminiscent of a street thug in the Parliament. Opposition MPs get suspended instantly for questioning the Modi government. Will the BJP minister be suspended for his indecent language?”