jilipark Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane Under Fire After Calling Kerala 'Mini-Pakistan' | What We Know

BJP MLA Nitesh Rane | Photo: X/@NiteshNRane BJP MLA Nitesh Rane | Photo: X/@NiteshNRane

Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane has spared a row after he referred to Kerala as "mini-Pakistan". The MLA's statement was met with backlash from the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi.

While speaking at a rally in Pune, the minister was quoted by news agency ANI as saying - "Kerala is mini Pakistan that is why Rahul Gandhi and his sister are elected from there. All terrorists vote for them. This is the truth, you can ask. They have become MPs after taking terrorists with them."

His statement was met with widespread backlash, especially from the state opposition. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey told news agency PTI - "The BJP leaders are worried since PM Modi won only by a lakh votes, they are not able to digest Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's win."

"It is a very unfortunate statement by Nitesh Rane. Kerala is part of India, our people live there. If they feel that it is becoming like Pakistan, the Governor is made by themselves only, then why Governor is not able to give information? The Home Minister is Amit Shah, all the agencies are under them. This is bad politics," Dubey added further.

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Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil also criticised the statement and said that Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis needs ot re-evaluate Rane's position in the cabinet.

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Rane Clarifies Remark

In response to the backlash, the BJP leader issued a clarification for his statement and said he was comparing the situation in Kerala to the situation in Pakistan.

"Kerala is very much part of India. However, the decreasing population of Hindus is something everyone should worry about. The religious conversion of Hindus into Muslims and Christians (Islam and Christianity) has become an everyday thing there,” said Rane.

Referring to the love jihad cases in the state, the BJP leader felt the need to compare the state with Pakistan.

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"The way Hindus are treated in Pakistan if such situations happen in our very own countryjilipark, we must take action against that. That is what I was trying to say in my speech," he said.