Maharashtra’s Fisheries and Ports Minister, Nitesh Rane, has stirred fresh controversy with his remarks at a Hindu Garjana Sabha in Sangli on Friday. Addressing the gathering, Rane equated EVMs with the phrase “Every Vote Against Mullah,” prompting widespread condemnation from various political leaders and parties.
According to news agency IANS, Rane stated, “They (opposition) are blaming EVMs, but they cannot digest the fact that the Hindu community has voted unitedly. They fail to understand this unity among the Hindu community. EVM stands for ‘Every Vote Against Mulla’.”
Sangli, Maharashtra: Minister Nitesh Rane says, “…They (opposition) are blaming EVMs, but they cannot digest the fact that the Hindu community has voted unitedly. They fail to understand this unity among the Hindu community. EVM stands for ‘Every Vote Against Mulla’…” pic.twitter.com/hdyJ91091L
— IANS (@ians_india) January 10, 2025
The comments were met with sharp criticism from Opposition leaders.
Shashi Tharoor Slams Nitesh Rane’s ‘Shocking’ Remarks, Brinda Karat Demands Arrest Over ‘Hate Speech’
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described the statement as “shocking” and contrary to the inclusive values championed during India’s independence movement.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Tharoor said, “This kind of thing is quite shocking. In our country, we really have to understand the basic lesson of the freedom struggle, which is that when one set of people said that religion is the basis of their nationhood. They went away and created Pakistan. Mahatma Gandhi onwards, our leader said we have fought for the freedom of everybody. We will create a country for everybody, we will write a constitution for everybody, and everybody will live here with equal rights.”
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: On Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane’s remark ‘EVM means, Every Vote against Mullah’, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says “This kind of thing is quite shocking. In our country, we really have to understand the basic lesson of the freedom struggle, which is… pic.twitter.com/eKvAxMiJIC
— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025
He added, “I must say that people picking on any one community, whether it’s against Muslims, Hindus, Christians, or any caste, that is all wrong. We are all equal individual citizens of India, and that is the only basis on which our country can progress.”
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat also condemned the remarks, terming them as hate speech and demanding Rane’s arrest. “This is a hate speech, and this man should be arrested. This man is a threat to India as this is not the first time he has made such an outrageous communal statement… The fact that he continues as a minister is a reflection of the hypocrisy of the BJP and the RSS. Prime Minister talks of the Constitution, and here his minister is destroying the basic foundation of the Constitution through this hate speech, so he must be removed from his post,” Karat said.
#WATCH | Ranchi, Jharkhand | On Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane’s statement, CPI-M leader, Brinda Karat says, “…this is a hate speech and this man should be arrested… This man is a threat to India as this is not the first time he has made such an outrageous communal… pic.twitter.com/hxmaaJHFNV
— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2025
AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan criticised the Maharashtra Minister for his repeated inflammatory remarks. Speaking to news agency PTI, Pathan said, “It is an old habit of Nitesh Rane to make such disgusting remarks. He has become a minister now, and the government has rewarded him for abusing Muslims, so he should refrain from making such remarks. He has 20 FIRs registered against him, but the government is not taking action against him.”
VIDEO | Here’s what AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan (@warispathan) said on Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane’s remarks on EVM.
“It is an old habit of Nitesh Rane to make such disgusting remarks. He has become a minister now and the government has rewarded him for abusing… pic.twitter.com/NbWvaFr3lF
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 11, 2025
This is not the first time Rane has been embroiled in controversy. In December, he referred to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi’s victories from Wayanad saying “terrorists” voted for them as he also labelled Kerala a “mini Pakistan.” The Congress party demanded Rane’s disqualification as a minister over the comments. ALSO READ | Congress Calls For Disqualification Of Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane Over ‘Mini Pakistan’ Remark On Kerala
