By IANS,
Mumbai : The police caned clashing supporters of Mumbai Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) general secretary Nitesh Rane, son of suspended minister Narayan Rane, and some rival Congressmen at the party office here Wednesday evening.
According to a party official, the incident occurred after Nitesh Rane held a media conference to announce his resignation along with 172 party workers from the MPYC.
During the conference, he criticized former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, State party president Manikrao Thakre, city party chief Kripa Shankar Singh, central party leader Ahmed Patel and others for what he termed “injustice” meted out to his father.
His supporters also raised slogans in favour of Narayan Rane and against the other party leaders outside the party office – located opposite the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus – the target of Nov 26 terror attacks.
Taking umbrage at the protests, a group of Congress workers clashed with the Nitesh Rane group, compelling the police to resort to a cane-charge to disperse the rival groups.
The agitated groups later dispersed from the scene without further disturbances.
Earlier this afternoon, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan was accorded a formal felicitation by the Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee on his election to the top post.