A wordy duel has erupted between Union Minister and senior BJP leader Narayan Rane and his political rival Uddhav Thackeray and his Shiv Sena (UBT) faction over the proposed refinery project at Barsu in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district.
While Mr. Rane, who is Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, has warned Mr. Thackeray against setting foot in the Konkan, the Thackeray camp leader Sanjay Raut dared the BJP leader to stop Mr. Uddhav Thackeray “if he had the guts to do so.”
“Today, police oppression still continues against farmers while women are being threatened for opposing the proposed refinery at Barsu [in Ratnagiri’s Rajapur district]… Uddhav Thackeray is being threatened as well with some persons [read Mr. Rane] attempting to thwart his Konkan visit. Try and stop us if you have the guts… do not wave black flags from a distance,” said Mr. Raut.
