Shirsat Condemns Rane's Statement on Monsoon Deaths
Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat on Sunday criticized BJP MLA Nitesh Rane for his alleged remarks about monsoon-related deaths, calling them inappropriate and stating that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde should have reprimanded him. Shirsat's comments came after a video clip surfaced showing Rane purportedly making light of the deaths caused by heavy rains in the state.
"The remarks made by Nitesh Rane regarding the rain deaths are highly inappropriate. As a public representative, he should show sensitivity towards the victims. The Chief Minister must have pulled him up for such behavior," Shirsat told reporters in Mumbai. He added that the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should also take note and act against their MLA.
Rane's Clarification and Denial
Later in the day, Nitesh Rane issued a clarification, denying that he made any remark about monsoon-related deaths or laughed about them. In a statement, Rane said, "I have not made any comment on the rain deaths nor did I laugh. Some people are spreading a distorted video to defame me." He accused the Shiv Sena of creating a controversy to divert attention from the government's failure to handle the flood situation.
Rane, a vocal BJP leader from the Konkan region, has been critical of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government's handling of the monsoon crisis. According to official figures, at least 164 people have lost their lives across Maharashtra due to rain-related incidents in the past week, with several districts like Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Satara severely affected.
Political Fallout and Reactions
The incident has sparked a political slugfest between the ruling Shiv Sena and the BJP, which are alliance partners in the central government but rivals in the state. Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said, "The BJP MLA's insensitivity reflects the party's attitude towards the common man. We demand an apology from him." BJP state unit chief Chandrakant Patil defended Rane, saying, "The video is doctored. Our MLA respects the sentiments of the people."
Meanwhile, opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also criticized Rane, with NCP leader Nawab Malik calling for a probe into the authenticity of the video. The controversy has once again highlighted the tense political climate in Maharashtra, where the Shiv Sena and BJP have been at odds since the former broke its long-standing alliance with the latter in 2019.
