BJP rebukes Maharashtra MLA Nitesh Rane over ‘hate speech’: ‘Such words should never…’

BJP MLA Nitesh Rane has been booked by Ahmednagar police in two separate FIRs. (File Photo: PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday sought to distance itself from the remarks by its Maharashtra MLA Nitesh Rane over the latter’s threat to Muslims.

Speaking to India Today, party spokesperson Tuhin Sinha said that the words uttered by Rane have no space in public life and the remarks should never have been made. “Such remarks have no space in public life and should never be uttered by any politician. Two FIRs have been filed and it is a matter of time before the law catches up,” Sinha said.

Nitesh Rane threatens Muslims

Addressing a public meeting in Ahmednagar in support of Hindu seer Mahant Ramgiri on Sunday, Rane threatened attacks against Muslims “by entering their mosques” if the seer is harmed. The self-proclaimed seer was in news last month over his derogatory comments on Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

“We will enter your mosques and hit you one by one. Keep this in mind,” Rane was heard saying in clips that went viral on social media. Two FIRs have been registered at the Shrirampur and Topkhana police stations in Ahmednagar district over the remarks.

Rane addressed two public meetings in Shrirampur and Topkhana areas in support of the Hindu seer and said there would be repercussions if he is harmed.

Opposition targets Mahayuti

Sharing a video of Rane’s speech, AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan demanded that the BJP leader be arrested. “Rane is spreading hatred against Muslims in his entire speech. This is inflammatory speech, hate speech. BJP is trying to create communal violence in Maharashtra before the state assembly elections,” Pathan said.

The Congress, on the other hand, alleged that the BJP wants to engineer riots ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls due later this year. A delegation of Mumbai Congress leaders led by its president Varsha Gaikwad met police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar and sought action against Kankavli MLA Rane and other BJP leaders for making provocative statements.

The Congress delegation also demanded that the police security of Nitesh Rane and other BJP leaders be withdrawn.

Narayan Rane raps Nitesh

Meanwhile, Rane’s father Union minister and BJP MP Narayan Rane said he has reprimanded his son and directed him not to drag religion in the matter.

"There is no need to drag any religion but only those who are guilty of it. Not all Muslims are guilty of this, so don't drag the entire community. I have reprimanded him," Narayan Rane said.