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Ravi Rana, Navneet arrested: Don’t play with Matoshree, says Shiv Sena, BJP condemns ‘Ravan Raj’

April 23, 2022
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Maharashtra Legislative Assembly member (MLA) Ravi Rana and his wife Independent MP (MP) Navneet Rana were arrested in Mumbai on Saturday over Hanuman Chalisa. The MP-MLA couple had reached Mumbai and threatened to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside the residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Matoshree.

The arrest of the couple triggered a war of words between the BJP and the Shiv Sena. While Shiv Sena warned of playing with the party or Matoshree, the BJP condemned ‘Ravan Raj’ in Maharashtra.

Here’s a look at how things happened in Mumbai on Friday and Saturday:

Organized protest against Ravi Rana, Navneet

Ravi Rana and Navneet Ranan reached Mumbai on Friday morning. The MP-MLA couple had announced that they Planned to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside Matoshree Uddhav Thackeray’s residence.

Ravi Rana told reporters that he had demanded that the chief minister recite Hanuman Chalisa on Hanuman Jayanti “to free Maharashtra from distress and achieve peace for the state”, but Shiv Sena chief Thackeray “refused”.

“We will go there (Matoshree) tomorrow (Saturday) at nine o’clock to read Hanuman Chalisa. We will cooperate with the police. I have asked my workers to ensure that law and order is not disturbed in Mumbai. Police and people should not be disturbed.”

Shiv Sena workers protest

Security was beefed up outside Matoshree after MLA couple Navneet and Ravi Rana planned to read Hanuman Chalisa there and angry reaction from Shiv Sena workers.

Saturday morning, Shiv Sena workers broke barricades and tried to enter the premises of Khar residence of Ravi Rana and Navneet Rana. The situation was brought under control, with police asking the couple not to step out of their house as the situation could escalate due to the presence of a large number of Shiv Sena workers outside their building in suburban Khar.

Read also: Shiv Sainiks gave ‘befitting reply’ to Rana couple’s decision to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside Matoshree

Ravi Rana called off the protest

on saturday evening, Ravi Rana called off the dharna citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mumbai. PM Modi is scheduled to attend the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award ceremony in Mumbai on Sunday evening, where he will receive the first Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award.

Closing the protest, Ravi Rana said, “I also have a responsibility not to create law and order.”

He said the Prime Minister’s visit should not be canceled and hence the agitation was being called off.

Ravi Rana, wife Navneet arrested

Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana were taken to Khar police station on Saturday evening carrying Hanuman Chalisa. Later the police arrested the couple.

On Saturday, MLA Ravi Rana and MP Navneet Rana are being taken out of their house by the police. (PTI photo)

An FIR has been registered against Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code. Police said that a case will also be registered against Shiv Sena workers who broke the barricades this morning.

To avoid law and order situation, medical examination of Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana was conducted at Khar police station itself.

Advocates Vaibha Krishna and Rizwan Merchant, appearing for Navneet Rana, raised questions on the arrest of both.

“We are opposing the arrest. We want the question of arrest to be withdrawn. Otherwise we will neither take bail in the police station nor in the court.”

Rizwan Merchant said that being an MP and MLA, the police should have taken permission from the Speaker before arresting the MLAs.

On Sunday, April 24, Khar Police will present Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana in Bandra Holiday Court.

BJP’s reaction to the arrest of MP-MLA couple

Calling it the “Ravan Raj in Maharashtra”, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya condemned the arrests of Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana.

He tweeted, “Strongly condemn Ravana Raj in Maharashtra for arresting MP and MLA for Hanuman Chalisa. CM Thackeray is scared of the combustion of his scamster government.

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis termed the arrest of the MP-MLA couple as “painful” and “shameful” for Maharashtra.

The BJP leader said the police did not act when a leader of the ruling Shiv Sena made threatening statements or the BJP leader’s car was attacked, but on reaching Mumbai to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s house. The Ranas were arrested. ,

In a series of tweets, Devendra Fadnavis said, “The incidents in Maharashtra are traumatic. No FIR was registered when Mohit Kamboj’s vehicle was attacked or when a leader tried to bury a woman representative 20 feet under the ground.” used to talk. But when the Rana couple comes to Mumbai to recite Hanuman Chalisa, they are immediately arrested.”

Shiv Sena’s reaction to the arrest of the couple

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut accused the duo of trying to vitiate the atmosphere in Mumbai.

“For the past few days, some fake Hindutvawadis (MP Navneet Rana and MLA Ravi Rana) tried to vitiate the atmosphere in Mumbai – ‘Matoshree’ (CM residence), recitation of ‘Hanuman Chalisa’. Amravati’s Bunty Aur Babli created a ruckus. Tried to do it,” said Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut.

Read also: Special squad likely to monitor, enforce SC norms on loudspeakers in Maharashtra

He further alleged, ‘A conspiracy to do something different was hatched at the CM’s residence. BJP tried to attack them with gun on their shoulders… Navneet and Ravi Rana are enemies of Maharashtra and behind them is former CM (Devendra Fadnavis).

Issuing a warning, Sanjay Raut said, ‘I want to add that don’t play with Shiv Sena and ‘Matoshree’, you will be buried 20 feet deep. I am saying this in front of the camera, don’t test the restraint of Shiv Sena.

(With inputs from Divyesh Singh, Vidya, PTI)

Read also: Loudspeaker controversy: Educationist says Raj Thackeray’s threat is a ploy to score political points ahead of civic polls