Stating that no massive protest march was possible without the blessings of influential leaders, former chief minister and Congress leader Narayan Rane said on Thursday that the Maratha community's massive silent march should not be linked with Kopardi rape and murder incident. Addressing a press conference at the Congress state unit headquarters at Gandhi Bhavan in Nariman Point, Rane said he would reveal at an appropriate time as to who "blessed" these marches. Making it clear that he did not agree with Pawar, who had linked these rallies with Kopardi rape and murder incident, Rane said the rallies were to press for reservation. Rane said the BJP and Sena had failed in pleading the case properly in the court, which resulted in taking away of the reservation benefits from the Maratha and Muslim communities. Congress leader Narayan Rane ridiculed Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was doing the job of home minister.

Source: dna September 02, 2016 01:52 UTC