Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: In what snowballed into a major political issue, BJP leader and Maharashtra Ports and Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane has described Kerala as “mini-Pakistan” attributing it as the main reason for the electoral successes of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi.
The Congress and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi-I.N.D.I.A. opposition bloc has slammed Rane and the BJP for the statement and asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take cognizance of the statement.
Rane, a three-time MLA from Kankavli, is the son of Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg MP Narayan Rane, a former Chief Minister and ex-Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly.
“Kerala is nothing short of a Mini Pakistan. That’s why Rahul Gandhi and his sister got elected from there. All the terrorists are the ones voting for them. I am speaking the truth. These people become MPs only with the support of terrorists,” said Rane.
In 2019 Rahul won the elections from Wayanad and lost the Amethi seat. However, in 2024, Rahul won Wayanad and Raebareli. Subsequently, he resigned from the Wayanad seat which Priyanka won in the bye-elections.
Rane’s statement came in Purandar in Pune to commemorate Shiv Pratap Din – marking Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s killing of the Bijapur Sultanate’s General Afzal Khan (1659) at Pratapgad Fort in Satara.
As he faced attacks, Rane sought to clarify his statement. "Kerala is very much a part of our country. The decreasing population of Hindus is something that everyone should worry about. Religious conversion of Hindus into Christians and Muslims is becoming an everyday thing there. Love Jihad cases are also increasing there. I was comparing the situation with the way Hindus are treated in Pakistan. If a similar situation arises in Kerala, then we have to think about it.”
“We want our Hindu Rashtra to remain a Hindu Rashtra, and Hindus should be protected in every way...I was just stating the facts so that everyone knows what the situation is. Whatever I said is based on facts...let the opposition, Congress prove me wrong,” he said.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said: “Ask BJP President J P Nadda whether the BJP will contest the next election in Kerala or not. These unconstitutional statements are repeatedly made by BJP leaders against the Constitution.”
“Rane is a motor mouth and must be controlled by the BJP. By calling Kerala a mini Pakistan, he has insulted and demeaned a state of our country, India, which is highly condemnable. Does BJP endorse his statement? They must answer to the people of India. What comes to mind is that an illiterate Nitesh Rane is shamelessly berating the most literate state of India,” said NCP (SP) national spokesperson Clyde Crasto.
“What else can be expected from him. But we have to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Fadnavis how can somebody calling one of our own states as ‘mini-Pakistan’ can continue to be a CabinetMinister? We take the pledge of unity…I expected both (PM and CM), who give patriotic talks to ensure that such persons are not allowed to remain in the ministry,” said state Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe.
"Rane is making blatant attempts to incite communities against each other in Kerala which has always rejected the BJP, and should be sacked for violating the oath of office,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Kishor Tiwari.