Shivaji Maharaj built Sindhudurg fort, else someone might say 'I built it': Uddhav Thackeray taunts arch rival Narayan Rane

Political rivals Uddhav Thackeray and Narayan Rane traded barbs on Saturday when they shared the stage during the inauguration of Chipi airport in Konkan's Sindhudurg.

In his speech, Narayan Rane strongly criticized Shiv Sena without naming it. Rane also expressed his grievances. Now all eyes were on what Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray would say on Rane's criticism. As soon as the Chief Minister started his speech.

'Today's moment is not about confrontation but about expressing happiness. Congratulations to Union Minister Jyotiraditya Shinde. Because even after staying so long, you have not forgotten the rites of Marathi soil. There is a rite of passage. Going to the soil for a while without the soil.

I will not repeat the development work in Konkan. But when I was doing aerial photography of forts. Now the fort is my understanding that at least Sindhudurg fort was built by Shivaji Maharaj. Someone else will say I built it.

"The existing infrastructure is because of Narayan Rane. Nobody can match it... People know who works. Uddhav-ji, I learnt everything from Saheb (Bal Thackeray)," Rane was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

'नारायण राणे आपण म्हणालात ते खरं आहे. आपण काही चांगल्या गोष्टी केल्या त्याबद्दल तुम्हाला धन्यवाद देतो. पण कोकणची जनता डोळे मिटून कधीच राहत नाही. ती शांत, संयमी आहे म्हणून सदासर्वदा भयभीत होऊन काहितरी करेल असं नाही. ती मर्द आहे. म्हणूनच गेले अनेक वर्ष तिने

Rane further said that late Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray 'hated lying' and 'did not care for those who lied'. In his speech, Uddhav Thackeray, who now heads the Shiv Sena, taunted Rane and said that Balasaheb Thackeray indeed did not like lying and hence, 'many times such people (who lied) were kicked out of the Shiv Sena'. Thackeray's remark was a veiled attack on Rane, who parted ways with the Shiv Sena after a bitter dispute.

He also said that the Sindhudurg fort was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 'otherwise someone might say I built it' - he taunted.

epeating the jibe that Shiv Sena has previously resorted to, Thackeray said that Rane's ministry at the Centre was 'micro and small', but hoped that he would use it for the benefit of Maharashtra. Rane, now a BJP leader heads the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) ministry.

"You (Rane) are a minister. So what if it is `micro and small', it is still an important department and (we are sure) you will use it for the benefit of Maharashtra," Thackeray said.

The rivalry between the two had recently played out in the open when Rane was arrested in August for his remarks against CM Thackeray.

The two are often at loggerheads with each other.