Maharashtra’s Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane has sparked controversy by labelling Kerala as “mini-Pakistan” during a rally in Purandar Taluka, Pune. The remark has drawn strong condemnation from opposition parties, accusing Rane of making divisive statements.
Speaking at the rally, Rane was quoted by ANI 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.”
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP, strongly condemned Rane’s comments. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey criticized Rane’s remarks, asserting that they reflect the BJP’s dissatisfaction over electoral losses. He questioned the government’s failure to address the issues Rane raised, including the presence of a governor in Kerala and the central government’s authority.
Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, calling into question Rane’s continued role in the cabinet. “Is this the kind of work he is being entrusted with?” Patil asked.
As the backlash intensified, Rane attempted to clarify his remarks, stating that he was referring to the situation in Kerala and not the state itself. He said Kerala had a declining Hindu population and raised concerns over religious conversions and “love jihad” cases, where he claimed Hindu women were being targeted.
“Kerala is very much part of India. However, the decreasing population of Hindus is something everyone should worry about,” Rane said. He likened the situation to the treatment of Hindus in Pakistan and argued that the country must address such issues if similar situations arise domestically.
Rane further defended his comments by asserting that his remarks were based on factual concerns, mentioning that he was accompanied by a person who had helped prevent the conversion of 12,000 Hindu women. He also claimed that local support for Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad could be attributed to support from “terrorists.”
