New Delhi: Maharashtra’s BJP minister Nitesh Rane, infamous for past inflammatory remarks against Muslims, issued another incendiary statement on Thursday, reported the Madhyamam. Following the assault of a Hindu man by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists for allegedly not speaking Marathi, Rane challenged those assailants to “show their strength” in Muslim-majority areas such as Null Bazaar and Mohammed Ali Road in Mumbai—asking if “those who wear skull caps” speak Marathi, and pointing out public figures like Javed Akhtar and Aamir Khan to make his point.
Rane claimed that targeting poor Hindus over language disputes allowed separatist forces to divide the Hindu community. He further alleged a “conspiracy to turn the country into an Islamic state” through tactics like love jihad and land jihad, branding the MNS violence as part of these broader efforts .
This new outburst follows a previously viral video showing MNS workers assaulting a shopkeeper. Rane’s comments echo his earlier hate speeches, which sparked violence in Mira Bhayandar last year, including attacks on Muslim-owned shops and serious injuries to youths chanting “Jai Shri Ram”—yet legal action against him has been repeatedly avoided .
Critics say these statements stoke communal tensions at a time of rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in Maharashtra, underlining calls for stricter enforcement of hate speech laws.
