Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Maharashtra Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane has ignited a political storm after labelling Kerala as a "mini-Pakistan" and accusing Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of being elected from the state with support from “terrorists”. He made the controversial remarks during an event in Pune commemorating Shiv Pratap Din. His comments have drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and demands for his dismissal from the Maharashtra cabinet.
Rane, the son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane said, “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 referred to Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha victories in Wayanad and Priyanka Gandhi's subsequent win in a bye-poll.
The comments provoked outrage, with leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance — comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) — condemning the statements as "unconstitutional" and divisive. Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said, "How can a person who labels an Indian state as Pakistan and its voters as terrorists remain in the cabinet? This is a blatant violation of his oath to uphold India's unity and sovereignty."
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey demanded accountability from the BJP, stating, "If Kerala is as Rane claims, why hasn't the Kerala Governor or Union Home Minister taken action? This is an attempt to incite communal hatred." NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto said that Rane was a "motormouth" and accused the BJP of tacitly endorsing his divisive rhetoric. "Kerala is India's most literate state, and such baseless insults demean the entire country. The BJP must clarify its stance," he said.
Despite the backlash, Rane stood by his remarks, claiming they were based on facts about religious conversions and "love jihad" incidents in Kerala. He claimed that he did not question Kerala's place within India but compared the state's situation to that of Pakistan regarding treatment of Hindus. "The decreasing Hindu population in Kerala and the rampant conversions are alarming. I was highlighting these issues," Rane said.
(With IANS inputs)