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17-07-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Opposition criticises Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane for remarks about using Marathi in madrasas
The Opposition in Maharashtra on Wednesday accused state minister Nitesh Rane of fuelling communal tensions for electoral gains after he suggested that Marathi should be used instead of Urdu in madrasas and for the azaan at mosques, The Indian Express reported. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader made the statements on Saturday while responding to reports that the Congress was launching Marathi schools in several parts of Mumbai, The Hindu reported. Rane claimed that the Opposition should ask Muslims to teach Marathi in madrasas and recite the azaan in the language instead of Urdu, adding that 'otherwise, all you get from there is a gun'. The azaan, the Muslim call to prayer, is traditionally recited in Arabic, not Urdu. Opposition parties described his statements as 'provocative' and aimed at 'creating tensions'. Congress leader Amin Patel noted that madrasas already used English, Hindi and Marathi, The Hindu reported. Noting that language and religion were two different things, Patel asked: 'Is Nitesh Rane himself taking any Marathi classes?' Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Shashikant Shinde said that such decisions were the responsibility of the home ministry, The Indian Express reported. 'There is no need to create unnecessary tension,' the newspaper quoted him as saying. 'If he wants Marathi to be taught in madrasas, who is stopping him? As a minister, he should raise such matters in the Cabinet, not make provocative public statements.' Shinde's party colleague Rohit Pawar claimed that Rane's remarks were politically motivated, The Hindu reported. He added that the statements were similar to the 'Hindu-Muslim card' used in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the 'Marathi versus non-Marathi' rhetoric in local polls. 'It is the home ministry's duty to investigate whether the madrasa has guns or bombs,' the newspaper quoted Shinde as saying. 'Mr Rane should not divide people for politics, or fuel communal sentiments.' Accusing Rane of hypocrisy, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that if you looked at Rane's old social media posts, 'you will see that he used to welcome the Tablighi Jamaat's Ijtema. He used to extend greetings. And now he wants azaan in Marathi?' The Ijtema is an annual three-day religious gathering organised by the Islamic organisation. In June, the BJP leader had again stirred a controversy after he asked why environmentalists and animal activists were not appealing for Bakri Eid to be celebrated 'virtually'. Rane claimed that activists 'selectively' and only targeted Hindu festivals like Holi and Diwali. Bakri Eid, also known as Eid-al-Adha, is a Muslim festival that commemorates the spirit of sacrifice. The festival entails the slaughtering of livestock. At the time, Maharashtra Minority Commission chairperson Pyare Khan had claimed that Rane was making remarks by quoting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' name, which was 'not right'. He accused the minister of sowing divisions and targeting Indian Muslims in the name of Pakistan. In April too, Khan had accused Rane of repeatedly engaging in hate speech
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Opposition slams Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane for ‘Marathi in madrasas' remark
Opposition parties in Maharashtra on Wednesday accused minister Nitesh Rane of stoking communal sentiments for electoral advantage after the BJP leader suggested that Marathi should replace Urdu in madrasas and that the Islamic call to prayer (azaan) be delivered in Marathi. Rane, reacting to reports that the Congress is launching Marathi schools in parts of Mumbai, said Saturday, 'Why does the Congress need to run Marathi schools? The Opposition should ask Muslims to give the azaan in Marathi. Instead of Urdu, teach Marathi in madrasas. Otherwise, all you get from there is a gun.' The statement triggered the Opposition, which has termed it as provocative, divisive, and aimed at polarising communities. Senior Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Shashikant Shinde criticised Rane's remarks, saying, 'This is the responsibility of the home ministry. There is no need to create unnecessary tension. If he wants Marathi to be taught in madrasas, who is stopping him? As a minister, he should raise such matters in the Cabinet, not make provocative public statements.' All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi accused Rane of hypocrisy. Responding to reporters, Owaisi said, 'If you look at his old tweets, you will see that he used to welcome the Tablighi Jamaat's Ijtema. He used to extend greetings. And now he wants azaan in Marathi?' Rane has been known for making controversial statements. Earlier this year, he questioned the sacrifice of animals during Eid Al Adha, called for a celebration of a 'virtual Eid' and said India does not operate under Shariah law. Pyare Khan, chairman of the Maharashtra State Minority Commission, later criticised the statements by Rane, accusing him of sowing divisions and targeting Indian Muslims in the name of Pakistan. Khan expressed concern that Rane's statements were not just harmful to society, but also risk dragging down his own party. 'By speaking like this, Nitesh Rane is damaging the image of the BJP. These are personal statements, but they reflect on everyone,' he said.
New Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
HC directs DDA to halt action against Shahi Idgah over religious gathering in park
NEW DELHI: The HC on Thursday directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) not to initiate any action against the Shahi Idgah in Sadar Bazar for holding a religious gathering in the adjacent park in December 2024. Justice Vikas Mahajan issued notice to the DDA on a petition moved by the Shahi Idgah Managing Committee and sought the authority's response. 'Renotify on September 10. In the meantime, having regard to the fact that the Waqf tribunal is non-functional, where the petitioner has instituted a suit, it is directed that the DDA shall not take any action pursuant to its notice dated February 11, 2025,' the Court said. The petitioner's counsel said DDA's notice of February 11 demanded Rs 12 lakh for using the park surrounding the Idgah for holding Ijtema(religious congregation)last year. The counsel said the park was part of the Idgah premises and DDA had no claim over it, and a suit was filed before the waqf tribunal against the authority's claim over it. However, as the tribunal was non-functional due to a lack of quorum, it was urged that the DDA should refrain from taking any steps in the interim. In response, the DDA's counsel argued that a single judge of the High Court had already held the park to be DDA property while adjudicating on a previous plea by the petitioner seeking to install a statue of Maharani Lakshmi Bai at the same site. DDA claimed the religious function was held in its park without prior approval.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi HC restrains DDA from taking coercive action against Idgah committee
New Delhi The Delhi high court on Thursday restrained the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) from taking coercive action against the Shahi Idgah Management Committee, which is facing a recovery notice from the administrative body following its annual Ijtema congregation at the Eidgah Park near Delhi's Sadar Bazar. On February 11, DDA issued a notice to the committee, seeking ₹12 lakh as booking charges for the religious function organised in December 2024, on the grounds that the parkland belonged to DDA. Justice Vikas Mahajan, however, said DDA must not take coercive action until further orders, after the committee's counsel, Sanjoy Ghose, submitted that it filed a suit with the Delhi Waqf Tribunal, claiming that the park was on the Idgah land and seeking demarcation of the land where the Shahi Eidgah was situated. Ghose said the matter could not be heard due to lack of quorum and non-constitution of the tribunal and therefore, the committee had been rendered remediless. 'The problem is that the tribunal is not functional. Till that time, he (committee) has no remedy. It is a government land, but he is not encroaching upon it. It is a religious function, the recovery can come later on,' justice Mahajan said to DDA's lawyer. 'Having regard to the fact that the Waqf Tribunal is not functional, it is directed that the DDA shall not take any coercive action pursuant to notice dated 11/2,' the court said in its order. The bench also issued a notice in the Shahi Idgah Management Committee's petition against the February 11 notice and fixed September 10 as the next date of hearing. In its petition, the committee had asserted that the park was part of the Idgah premises and DDA had no claim over it. However, DDA's counsel submitted that a single judge, while previously dealing with the committee's petition against the installation of Maharani Lakshmi Bai's statute on September 23, 2024, had given a finding that the park was DDA's property. The counsel argued the religious function had been held on DDA land without prior approval. The committee had appealed against the single judge's decision before the division bench, but was not granted relief, the DDA counsel told the court. Ghose, however, contended that the single judge had no power to rule on the issue of title of the park and the division bench had left open all contentions of the parties.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC tells DDA not to act against Shahi Idgah over park use
New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Thursday asked Delhi Development Authority not to take any action against the Shahi Idgah in the capital's Sadar Bazar area for using the adjoining park for a religious event last year. Justice Vikas Mahajan also issued a notice to DDA on a petition filed by the Shahi Idgah managing committee and asked the authority for a response. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi "Renotify on Sept 10. In the meantime, having regard to the fact that the waqf tribunal is non-functional, where the petitioner instituted a suit, it is directed that DDA shall not take any action pursuant to its notice dated Feb 11, 2025," the court directed after hearing submissions from the parties. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Complete protection with iPru All-in-one Term Plan ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel said DDA's notice of Feb 11 demanded Rs 12 lakh for using the park surrounding the Idgah for holding Ijtema in Dec 2024. However, the counsel maintained that the park was part of the Idgah premises and DDA had no claim over it. He further highlighted that the committee already filed a suit before the waqf tribunal against the land-owning authority's claim over it, but since the tribunal was non-functional due to a lack of enough members, DDA should hold its hand till the tribunal forms an opinion. Opposing the plea, the counsel for DDA said a single judge of the high court already gave a finding on the park being DDA's property while dealing with the petitioner's plea for installing a Maharani Lakshmi Bai statue there. The lawyer said the single judge's decision was appealed against by the petitioner before a division bench, which did not intervene, finalising the authority of DDA over the park. The civic agency claimed the religious function was held in its park without prior approval and demanded costs. On his part, the petitioner's counsel said the single judge had no power to rule on the issue of the title of the park, and the division bench left open all contentions of the parties.
