Security at Maharashtra CM’s home beefed up

A massive security-ring has been thrown around Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence after the politically influential Rana couple declared that they would recite Hanuman-chalisa outside Matoshree.

The issue has come as a major law and order challenge for the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

The Rana-couple - Ravi Rana, a three-time Independent MLA from Badnera and Navneet Kaur Rana, an actor-turned-politician who is a first time independent MP from Amravati - reached Mumbai on Friday evading any police action in their home district.

The Rana duo, while speaking to reporters outside their residence in Khar, reiterated that they would recite Hanuman-chalisa outside Matoshree at 9 am on Saturday for what they claim would ward off “sade-sati” from Maharashtra.

A big group of Shiv Sainiks are also undertaking a sit-in near Matoshree in Bandra, the bungalow of the Thackeray family - and they assured that they will give “maha-prasad” when the Rana couple comes and recites Hanuman-chalisa.

Shiv Sena’s alliance parties - Sharad Pawar-led NCP and Congress have accused the BJP of being behind the Ranas.

The Ranas run the Yuva Swabhiman Party and they are very close to Baba Ramdev, the yoga guru.

“Let Bunty and Bubbly be here…they are doing ‘stuntbaji’ and BJP needs such people now,” said Shiv Sena MP and party’s chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut.

Outside Matoshree, senior leaders including Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg MP Vinayak Raut, Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai and youth leader Varun Sardesai and Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar were present. “Let them come…why such things are being done has a simple logic, they want to dismiss the government and bring in President’s rule,” said Pednekar.

“We will go there and perform Hanuman-chalisa on Saturday,” said the Ranas, adding that come what may they would go to Matoshree and perform Hanuman-chalisa peacefully and cooperate with the police.

Meanwhile, a team of Mumbai police led by deputy commissioner of police Manjunath Singe visited the Ranas at their home and served them a notice from Kherwadi police station under section 149 of Code of Criminal Procedure.

Massive security deployment could be seen in the Khar-Bandra stretch of western suburbs of Mumbai.

“Mahaprasad is ready. Whoever comes, will get it,” said the Shiv Sainiks who had assembled near Matoshree.

“They are not big enough to talk about the Shiv Sena pramukh," said Yuva Sena secretary Varun Sardesai, a close aide of state tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray.

"There is news about the Rana couple planning to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside 'Matoshree'. Is this the job of a public representative?…they are inspired by BJP’s ideology,” NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said.

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