Sindhudurg Airport event turns into Uddhav-Rane slugfest

It was to be a momentous occasion for Konkan as the Chipli airport in Sindhudurg, which would improve air connectivity to the region, was finally inaugurated. However, it turned into a verbal slugfest on the stage as Union minister Narayan Rane and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray slammed each other in their speeches at the inauguration of the airport.

Without naming Thackeray or the Shiv Sena, Rane claimed in his speech that "those who were opposing the project are now sitting on the stage". The micro, small and medium enterprises minister further said, "Some people here have come with bad intentions."

Rane said the late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray had asked him to develop the Konkan region. He also said the state government had not been able to improve infrastructure near the airport and that the roads near the airport were full of potholes.


Thackeray, who spoke after Rane, was equally acerbic. "It is true that you spoke about my father Bal Thackeray's role in the development of the region. My father also did not tolerate people who spoke lies. He therefore booted out those who spoke lies from the party," he said, referring to Rane's expulsion from the Shiv Sena in 2005.

Further, he said the people of Konkan were smart and they knew who had worked for the party and hence they voted for Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut, who won by defeating Rane's elder son Nilesh.