Maharashtra's Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane has stirred controversy with his latest inflammatory remarks interpreting 'EVM' as "Every Vote Against Mullah." Speaking at a Hindu Garjana Sabha in Sangli, Rane said, "Yes, we are EVM MLAs, but EVM means every vote against Mullah."
Addressing opposition claims about EVMs, Rane claimed that opposition parties in Maharashtra are raising concerns about electronic voting machines because "they cannot digest the fact that the Hindu community voted unitedly."
Rane, who is the son of former Maharashtra chief minister and ex-union minister Narayan Rane, has a history of making controversial statements. Recently, he had referred to Kerala as "mini Pakistan" and claimed that "terrorists" in Kerala vote for Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.
Responding to Rane's remarks, Sharad Pawar faction leader Jitendra Awhad criticised the BJP, saying, "Nitesh Rane took oath on the Constitution. Some people are kept only to create Hindu-Muslim divisions."
After facing backlash for his remarks over Kerala, Rane clarified that Kerala was indeed part of India and that he was comparing situation in Kerala with that in Pakistan. "Kerala is very much part of India. However, the decreasing population of Hindus is something everyone should worry about. The religious conversion of Hindus into Muslims and Christians (Islam and Christianity) has become an everyday thing there. The love jihad cases where Hindu women are targeted are also increasing there. I was comparing the situation (in Kerala) with Pakistan. The way Hindus are treated in Pakistan if such situations happen in our very own country, we must take action against that. That is what I was trying to say in my speech," he said.
According to a recent report by The Indian Express, there are currently 38 FIRs registered against the Nitesh Rane.
