Sena slapgate heats up: Aaditya Thackeray's 'chhadi-banian gang' swipe sparks Nilesh Rane’s dare - 'have guts, take names'

NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra Assembly witnessed high drama on Monday as a war of words broke out between Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray and Eknath Shinde-led Sena legislator Nilesh Rane over slapgate controversy involving party colleagues.The spark came when Thackeray, speaking on the assembly floor, took a veiled jab at Shiv Sena MLAs Sanjay Gaikwad and Sanjay Shirsat, referring to them as part of a “chhadi-banian gang”. The term was aimed at recent viral videos that showed Buldhana MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, dressed in a vest and towel, physically assaulting a canteen worker over allegedly stale dal. In another clip, minister Sanjay Shirsat appeared reclining on a bed near a bag that the Shiv Sena (UBT) claimed was stuffed with currency notes."They do whatever they want to because to do not have fear," Thackeray said.MLA Nilesh Rane shot back sharply, challenging Thackeray to drop the ambiguity. "How can one make such comments just to for the sake of criticising. If you have guts take names," PTI quoted Rane as saying. He also demanded that the remarks be expunged from the assembly proceedings.Mumbai Police registered a non-cognisable offence against Gaikwad over the slapping incident. The incident drew sharp criticism from both the opposition and ruling leaders, including CM Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde. In response, the FDA suspended the canteen contractor’s license.