Nitish Rane clarified on calling Kerala ‘mini Pakistan’, said- ‘I have only stated the facts’

BJP leader and Maharashtra government minister Nitish Rane has clarified his controversial statement in which he called Kerala ‘mini Pakistan’. He said that his statement was about conversion and the decreasing number of Hindus in Kerala. However, his clarification further fueled the controversy as he challenged the Congress to prove his facts wrong.

What did Nitesh Rane say?

Addressing a rally in Pune’s Purandar taluka, Nitish Rane had said:

• “Kerala is mini Pakistan. That is why Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi win elections from there. All terrorists vote for him. This is the truth.”
• After his statement, there was a huge uproar in political and social circles.

Nitesh Rane’s clarification

As the controversy escalated, Nitish Rane clarified his statement and said:

• “Kerala is a part of this country, but the number of Hindus there is decreasing rapidly. It’s a topic of concern.”
• He said that he was referring to the increasing incidents of religious conversion and love jihad.
• “I had compared the condition of Hindus in Kerala with that of Pakistan. If this continues, the situation may worsen.”

Challenged to Congress and opposition

Nitish Rane challenged Congress and opposition parties and said:

• “Whatever I said is based on facts. Congress should prove me wrong.”
• He said that the purpose of his statement was to draw attention towards the safety of Hindus.

Claims on conversion and love jihad

• Nitish Rane said that he was told by a person that he stopped 12,000 Hindu women from converting to Islam or Christianity.
• He said, “The situation that has arisen in Kerala can be compared with Pakistan.”

Comment on Rahul Gandhi and Wayanad

Nitish Rane said about Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi:

• “Go and ask anyone in Wayanad who are the people who support these two.”
• He created a new controversy by linking the election support of Rahul and Priyanka to terrorists.

previous controversial statements

Nitesh Rane has been in the news earlier also for his controversial statements.

• During Lok Sabha elections:
  One of his statements had given the opposition an opportunity to be aggressive.
• Current statement:
  This time’s statement has put BJP on the defensive.