Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane Faces Backlash For 'Mini Pakistan' Remark

Mumbai: Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane had insulted Kerala and it's people by calling the state a 'mini Pakistan', said Keralites living in Mumbai.

Jojo Thomas, president All Mumbai Malayali Association and a member of the Lokha Kerala Sabha, said that Rane statement was divisive and derogatory statement, and unbecoming.

Thomas, a general secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, said that f Rane, who has targeted minorities in the past, should be dismissed from the cabinet.

"His latest outburst appears to be motivated by Kerala's overwhelming support for Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. If Rane believes that Malayalis are terrorists, he must also explain how BJP candidate Suresh Gopi won elections in Kerala—was that also due to "terrorist votes"?," asked Thomas who is also the president of the Bombay Kerala Catholic Association.

Malayalis living in Mumbai said that that Rane's comments have insulted lakhs of Keralites who have contributed to the development of Mumbai and Maharashtra. They pointed out that BJP MLAs in Mumbai and Thane bhave been supported by Malayalis and other communities.

"I do not know from where he (Rane) got the information on conversion of Hindus to Christianity and Islam. He has also dragged Christians into the controversy," said another member of the Bombay Kerala Catholic Association.