Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane has urged members of the Hindu community to buy firecrackers and other Diwali items from shopkeepers who wear a tilak, chant “Jai Shri Ram” and know religious prayers, drawing criticism from opposition leaders who accused him of promoting communal divisions.
Speaking to news agency IANS in Mumbai on Tuesday, Rane said Hindus should prioritise vendors who identify with Hindu religious traditions.
“I would urge the Hindu community that, while shopping for the occasion of Diwali, you should buy goods from shopkeepers who say ‘Jai Shri Ram’, wear a tilak on their foreheads, and know how to recite the Hanuman Chalisa or the Maha Aarti,” he said.
Rane also praised the Maharashtra government’s financial assistance programme for farmers ahead of Diwali, claiming that no previous state government had provided comparable support. The state has announced an initial assistance of Rs 5,000 for eligible farmers.
Opposition leaders accuse Rane of spreading hatred
Opposition leaders criticised Rane’s remarks, accusing him of attempting to create animosity between religious communities.
Rashtriya Janata Dal MLA Bhai Virendra said some politicians switched parties to secure positions and accused them of spreading communal hatred.
He said Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs had fought together for India’s independence, adding that the country was secular and not a Hindu nation. He also demanded that Rane withdraw his remarks and apologise.
Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said Rane should remember the Constitution and the oath he took as a minister.
“Being a minister, he should be aware of the Constitution. He should remember that he took an oath,” Wadettiwar said, accusing him of attempting to create divisions between religious communities.
Former Congress MP Hussain Dalwai also criticised Rane, saying the minister had no authority to make such decisions.
Dalwai questioned whether the remarks would influence consumer behaviour, arguing that buyers would prioritise the quality and affordability of goods rather than the religious identity of shopkeepers.
Controversy over Muslim vendors
The criticism comes amid reports that Rane has also called for Hindus to purchase goods only from Hindu-owned shops during festivals. He has reportedly opposed the participation of Muslim vendors in the Nashik Kumbh Mela.
Rane has also reportedly claimed that money spent at Muslim-owned businesses could be used to support extremism and urged Hindus to interact only with members of their own community.
