Opposition slams Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane for calling Kerala a ‘mini-Pakistan’

Opposition leaders criticize Maharashtra BJP Minister Nitesh Rane for calling Kerala "mini-Pakistan", demanding clarification from PM Modi and CM.

Opposition leaders on Monday (December 30, 2024) lashed out at Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Maharashtra Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane a day after he called Kerala a “mini-Pakistan”. He made the remark while addressing a public rally in Pune’s Purandar tehsil on Sunday (December 29, 2024).

Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe asked if a person with such behaviour is eligible to sit in the ministerial post. “At the time of oath-ceremony, Nitesh Rane had sworn in to keep the unity and integrity of the country intact but he is doing otherwise. Mr. Rane is calling Kerala a “mini-Pakistan“ and voters “terrorists”. After such a remark, does he still hold the right to remain in the Cabinet? Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra should clarify their stand on Mr. Rane’s statement.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey said that BJP leaders are not able to digest the win of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Wayanad Lok Sabha byelection. He said that it is unfortunate to hear such a statement from someone holding a ministerial post. “Kerala is part of India. If they feel the State is turning into Pakistan, why are the Governor chosen by the BJP and Home Minister Amit Shah not making such an information available to all? This is a low phase of politics.”

Senior Congress MLA and former leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar asked why the Central government is not acting upon this statement and, if the State is a ‘mini-Pakistan’, why no step is taken by the Centre. “This is an inflammatory language attacking the Indian communities and identity. He has insulted the voters of Kerala.”

Responding to the Opposition, Mr. Rane on Monday said that he was merely comparing the situation in Kerala with Pakistan. “I never said Kerala is not part of India. Kerala is very much part of India. I was making a point about the declining population of Hindus in the State which we should be worried about. Hindus must be protected as our country is a Hindu Rashtra. The religious conversion of Hindus into Muslims and Christians has become a common scenario in this State. There is a rise in love jihad cases and Hindu women are always targeted.”

He further said, “The way Hindus are treated in Pakistan, if such situations begin in our country, we must be aware to make sure we take necessary action against that, and that is all I meant through my speech. I have only stated facts. I was once accompanied by a person who helped 12,000 Hindu women by stopping them from getting converted to Islam and Christianity. I still stand by my statement on Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. One can go and check the Wayanad constituency and find out who are the people and organisations supporting them. Can Congress come out and take a stand that there is not a single terrorist organisation in the State who are supporting Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in the elections? I will produce proof with facts.