Backlash Against BJP MLA Nitesh Rane for Anti-Muslim Remarks

Mumbai: Nitesh Rane, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and member of the legislative assembly for Kankavli, is facing criticism for his inflammatory comments directed at the Muslim community.

State BJP leader Haji Arfat Shaikh has vocally condemned Rane’s statements, urging him to visit mosques if he genuinely wishes to challenge Muslims. Shaikh warned that Rane is crossing a line and has suggested that party officials should rein in the outspoken MLA.

In a video circulating on social media, Shaikh expressed concerns over Rane’s remarks. He stated, «He is not the ‘Gabbar’ (a well-known villain from a Bollywood film) but the ‘gobar’ (cow dung) of Hindus.» Shaikh cautioned Rane against using derogatory language regarding Prophet Muhammad, stating that if the Muslim community were to respond, Rane would find himself unable to speak.

The controversy erupted after Rane’s public speeches in Shrirampur and Topkhana in the Ahmednagar district. During these speeches, Rane supported Hindu seer Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj, who had previously made derogatory comments about Islam. Rane threatened the Muslim community, claiming that they would face violence in retaliation for any criticism directed at Ramgiri Maharaj.

Rane asserted his status as the «Gabbar of Hindus,» boasting that Muslims instinctively close their doors when he is nearby. Shaikh, leading the Maharashtra State Muslim Khatik Samaj Unit and a former head of the Maharashtra state minority commission, expressed his discomfort in representing his community as a BJP leader following Rane’s remarks.

In reaction to Rane’s threats, Shaikh stated that the values of Hindutva need to be understood correctly, emphasizing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s and Balasaheb Thackeray‘s interpretations. He questioned Rane’s motivations behind attacking Muslims and cautioned that his continued incendiary language would have significant consequences.

Former BJP MP Sujay Vikhe Patil also criticized Rane, warning against any attempts to sow division based on caste or religion. He stressed the importance of social harmony in Ahmednagar and pledged to confront Rane if he continued his divisive rhetoric.