Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane has sparked widespread controversy after referring to Kerala as “mini-Pakistan,” which has led to severe backlash from the opposition.
Rane, addressing a rally in Purandar Taluka, Pune, stated, “Kerala is mini Pakistan, which 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 comments drew immediate criticism from various political leaders.
Opposition parties, including the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, condemned Rane’s remark. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey called the statement unfortunate, highlighting that Kerala is an integral part of India. He questioned why, if the situation was as dire as Rane claimed, the Governor and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had not intervened.
Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil demanded accountability from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, suggesting that Rane’s remarks were unacceptable for a member of the state cabinet.
Amid the uproar, Rane clarified his statement, claiming that he was not labeling Kerala as “mini-Pakistan” in its entirety but rather comparing certain issues, such as the decreasing Hindu population and religious conversions, to Pakistan’s treatment of Hindus. He stressed that “love jihad” cases involving Hindu women were increasing in the state, which he argued mirrored the situation in Pakistan.
Rane defended his comments, stating that he was merely highlighting facts, and claimed that he was accompanied by a person who had helped prevent 12,000 Hindu women from converting to Islam and Christianity. He also reiterated his belief that the support of “terrorists” for leaders like Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi in Kerala should be questioned.
The controversy continues to unfold, with political leaders from both sides of the aisle questioning Rane’s remarks and his position in the state government.
