Congress leader Nana Patole’s ‘can abuse Modi’ comment sparks protests

State Congress chief Nana Patole made the comment during poll campaign in Bhandara. File pic

State Congress president Nana Patole has again courted controversy, this time with his purported statement that he "can beat and abuse Modi" and subsequent explanation that the person he talked about was a local goon named Modi. This has evoked an aggressive reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party's rank and file that staged protests in various places, demanding arrest of the MLA.

The row erupted after a video went viral on social media wherein Patole made the statement while talking to the villagers in Bhandara during the local election campaign. He issued an explanation soon after the BJP took offence. The BJP demanded that Patole be arrested the way Union minister Narayan Rane was arrested on the charges of using foul language against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

BJP reaction

On Tuesday, BJP leaders protested, burnt the effigy of Patole and sat on dharna at police stations. In Mumbai, MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar and in Kamptee near Nagpur, former minister Chandrashekhar Bawankuke and a host of party workers protested. Complaints were also lodged at various places demanding Patole's arrest.

Citing that Rane as well as some other BJP leaders were arrested for their statements, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis asked why Patole could not be arrested. "Patole's statement reflects his party's thought. It is clear who he is speaking against. There was no local goon named Modi in the village or neighbourhood where Patole spoke," said Fadnavis.

In Bhandara , BJP's Lok Sabha member Sunil Mendhe said he would move court to have Patole arrested. Meanwhile, Mumbai BJP chief Mangalprabhat Lodha said a party delegation will meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

BJP legislator Ashish Shelar tweeted, "The PM's security is breached near the Pakistan border in a Congress-ruled state of Punjab. And now Patole says in a Naxal-affected district that he can kill Modi. Patole should be arrested and subjected to a Narco test." Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Narayan Rane have also demanded Patole's arrest. State BJP president Chandrakant Patil said the police were working under pressure from the ruling parties.

Patole defends

Patole, however, maintained his position and said the police were inquiring against the person named Modi. He added that the BJP was misusing the video for political gains. "We respect the PM's office. In fact, the BJP is devaluing the PM by doing this. I will ask Congress workers to file complaints against the BJP," he said. While Patole said a person was arrested, the Bhandara police have denied any such arrest.