Mumbai, Aug. 16 -- Former MLA Vaibhav Naik has strongly questioned Minister Nitesh Rane's recent statement directing to "break the hands of sand thieves".
Naik asked whether this order was genuinely meant to curb illegal sand mining or simply a ploy to increase extortion money.
He added that if the warning was truly aimed at stopping sand theft, the people of Sindhudurg would support it. However, if it was just for show or to demand higher payoffs, the Shiv Sena would strongly oppose it.
Naik further challenged Rane to first investigate illegal sand miners operating in the constituency of his brother, MLA Nilesh Rane, and expose their political links.
"If action is genuinely taken against them, we will welcome Rane's initiative. Otherwi...