'Kerala is mini-Pakistan': Maharashtra BJP's Nitesh Rane sayts terrorists voted for Priyanka, Rahul Gandhi

Maharashtra Fisheries Minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane finds himself in the centre of a storm after he labelled Kerala as "Mini-Pakistan." While addressing a rally in Purandar Taluka of Pune, Nitesh Rane said that Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi were elected as members of Parliament from Kerala because terrorists voted for them. 

"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,"  he said. However, Rane was later forced to clarify that Kerala is part of India and what he meant was to compare the situations in Pakista and Kerala. He reportedlu cited issues like "religious conversions" and "love jihad" to justify his comparison with Pakistan and claimed his statements to be factual.

Rane, son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane, was speaking at a function on the occasion of Shiv Pratap Din, the anniversary of a historic incident when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had killed Afzal Khan when he made these remarks.

Opposition attacks BJP over Nitish Rane's remarks

The remarks drew sharp criticism, with questions raised about Rane's suitability as a cabinet minister and concerns over the divisive nature of his statements. 

Reacting to his statements, Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe Patil lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for not correcting their party colleague. He questioned why Rane was still part of the cabinet.

"What else can one expect from Nitesh Rane? He has been elected to do this only. However, I want to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Devendra Fadnavis. The person (Rane), who is a minister, has taken an oath of the Constitution to (maintain) the sovereignty and unity of India. Now, he is labelling one of the country's states as Pakistan. He is calling the voters there as 'terrorists.' Should he have the right to remain in the ministerial position? This is my question to you. From morning to evening, Nitesh Rane only spreads Dharmandata (communalism). If you (Modi and Fadnavis) call yourself deshbhakt (nationalist), how is such a person still in the cabinet?"

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey told PTI that, "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.

Nitish Rane's clarification

"We want our country, which is a Hindu Rashtra, to remain a Hindu Rashtra," Rane told ANI, adding that "Hindus" must be protected in every way.

"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. The love jihad cases where Hindu women are targeted are also increasing there. I was comparing the situation (in Kerala) with Pakistan. The way Hindus are treated in Pakistan if such situations happen in our very own country, we must take action against that. That is what I was trying to say in my speech," Rane, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, said.

Rane further said that he was stating facts and was accompanied by a person who has helped "12,000 Hindu women" by stopping them from getting converted to "Islam and Christianity." He maintained that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have won in the Wayanad constituency because they received support from terrorist organisations.

"The entire situation can be compared. I was just stating the facts. I was accompanied by a gentleman who has helped 12,000 Hindu women by stopping them from getting converted to Islam and Christianity. What I said about Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, you ask anyone in the Wayanad constituency. Who are the people who support them? Which are the organisations that support them? A lot of local BJP leaders have said the same thing. Can Congress come out and say we are wrong? Can they say that there is not a single terrorist organisation that supported Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi in the elections? Let them say. We will give more proof. Whatever I said was based on facts," Rane added.