The video was shared by former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Twitter; in the footage, Patole is heard saying, "I can hit Modi, abuse Modi."
Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole was criticized after a video surfaced on the web of him allegedly making insulting remarks against PM Modi on Monday. Former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shared the video on Twitter; in the footage, Patole, while talking to locals, is heard saying, "I can hit Modi, abuse Modi" in Bhandara during the local body election campaign.
After Hon PM ji’s security breach near Pakistan border in Punjab, Congress CM even refused to speak over the phone!
And now Maharashtra Congress President says “He can beat Modi, hit, abuse Modi…” pic.twitter.com/93wW3fDn0P
Patole can be heard in the video saying, "Why do I fight? For the last thirty years, I have been in politics. People enrich one generation in five years. They launched schools and colleges for their ages to grow. In my political career, I have never established one school. I aid people. That's why I can hit Modi, abuse Modi. Thus, Modi campaigned against me."
Reacting to the video Union Minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted, the language used by the Maharashtra Congress State President Nana Patole about the Prime Minister is very offensive and reprehensible. Gadkari requests the police administration to file a case against Patole and arrest him.
पंतप्रधान श्री जी यांच्याविषयी महाराष्ट्र कॉंग्रेसचे प्रदेशाध्यक्ष नाना पटोले यांनी वापरलेली भाषा अतिशय आक्षेपार्ह व निंदनीय आहे. माझी पोलीस प्रशासनाला विनंती आहे, की पटोलेंवर गुन्हा दाखल करून त्यांना अटक करण्यात यावी.
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari)
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Union Minister Narayan Rane also condemned the remark and demanded Patole's arrest. Rane tweeted that it's a matter of national security and police should arrest Nana Patole.
पुलिस की ये जिम्मेदारी है कि अब पटोले को गिरफ्तार करे। यह राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा से जुड़ा मुद्दा है।
— Narayan Rane (@MeNarayanRane)Meanwhile, a group of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers headed by the former Maharashtra Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule complained to the Kuhi Police Station, calling for an FIR to be filed against Congress President Nana Patole.
Clarifying his statement, Patole said he is aware of what dignity a Prime Minister's position hold. His statement was for a local goon, whose name is also Modi. He further added that he never spoke about PM Modi; however, BJP wishes to support local goons; it's their wish. Patole also said, these people are complaining now, where the same people who called Manmohan Singh, a thief despite being the Prime Minister. BJP's outrage is meaningless.