Mumbai, Apr 18 (Midday News): Congress MLA Nitesh Rane on Sunday cut a cake with the image of former Maharashtra Advocate General Shrihari Aney, in a symbolic gesture to oppose those favouring division of the state.

Nitesh, son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane, cut the cake with Aney's image while he was in Hingoli district of Marathwada, to attend an event on the Maratha reservations issue. He cut the cake in such a manner that the image of the head was severed from rest of the portion. Aney, who took over as state's Advocate General (AG) in October last year, resigned from his position last month after his comments demanding a referendum on statehood for Vidarbha created a flutter in the Maharashtra state assembly. Earlier this week, Aney had celebrated his 66th birthday by cutting a cake with an image of the Maharashtra state printed on it. Aney symbolically cut two pieces of Vidarbha and Marathwada from the cake in the presence of some of his friends and well-wishers. His symbolic gesture was seen as a retort to MNS leader Raj Thackeray's comment during the party's recent rally at Shivaji Park here. Referring to the former AG's stand on separate statehood for Vidarbha and Marathwada, Thackeray had said, "Is Maharashtra some kind of a cake, which you can cut slices of?"