Former Chief Minister Narayan Rane's son Nilesh Rane has levelled serious charges against Shiv Sena's founder late Bal Thackeray. Alleging that Thackeray had hatched a plot to kill Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam, he said:
"Balasaheb wanted to get Sonu Nigam killed. The attempt was made by Shiv Sainiks at the orders of Balasaheb. Do not force me to tell you what was the relationship between the Thackeray family and Sonu Nigam," alleged Nilesh Rane.
Nilesh further alleged that Bal Thackeray was also responsible for Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe's death. "Dighe's murder was made to resemble death during treatment in a Thane hospital. Two Shiv Sena workers who knew about this murder and couldn't digest the fact were also ordered to be killed," claimed Nilesh Rane.
Nilesh Rane's outburst's trigger was the direct attacks that Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut launched on Narayan Rane while speaking at a political rally in Ratnagiri. Nilesh was replying to Raut's jibe that the Shiv Sena members live by Bal Thackeray's teachings that imbibe loyalty to the bhagwa (saffron, also denoting Hinduism) and that no amount of money can sway their heartfelt reverence to the teachings of the Sena patriarch.
"We have never said anything wrong about Balasaheb till now even when he attacked my father. However, enough is enough. While someone is making wild allegations against my father then I have to retort," explained Nilesh Rane.
The Shiv Sena, as well as BJP, preferred not to comment on the rapid-fire allegations. However, senior Shiv Sena leader on condition of anonymity called Nilesh Rane's allegations despicable. He equated them to spitting on the sun.
Nilesh Rane, who was elected to Lok Sabha in 2009, told DNA that all is far from over and he will continue his frontal attack on Shiv Sena, "This was just a trailer. I will expose the party leaders thoroughly during poll rallies."
"We know our limitations. But Vinayak Raut has crossed the limits and that is why I have to speak. My father Narayan Rane's love for Balasaheb has not diminished even today," explained Nilesh Rane.
"Jayadev Thackeray revealed only half-truths in the court. Do not force me to reveal what Bal Thackeray's son Jayadev Thackeray has said. If I tell the public about it, you can forget the Bal Thackeray memorial, even the clothes will not be left intact on the body of any of the Thackeray family members. People will not allow this monument to happen," he warned.
