Latest news with #NiteshRane
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
M'rashtra Cabinet Minister Nitesh Rane targets Raj Thackeray, calls Naya Nagar ‘Hub of Love Jihad'
Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Nitesh Rane on his Press Conference warned MNS Chief Raj Thackeray over his views on Marathi Nitesh Rane said, "Nobody speaks Marathi in Naya Nagar, and people there don't believe in the constitution, but want to impose Sharia law there. Nobody wore masks or got vaccinated there during the Covid pandemic. It is a hub of love jihad... The Hindus need to stay united to prevent the nation from becoming an Islamic capital... PM Modi gave the slogan 'Ek Hain toh Safe Hain'... If a Muslim becomes the Commissioner at BMC, will our people, the fishermen stay safe?... Our government will protect the Hindus; we will not stay silent if Hindus are subjected to violence..." Show more Show less
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Iconic SoBo aquarium to be rebuilt in 1.5 years: Min
1 2 Mumbai: The iconic Taraporewala aquarium at south Mumbai's Charni Road, one of the oldest such in the country that has been shut since the Covid lockdown, is being rebuilt to world-class standards, said minister Nitesh Rane in the legislative council on Friday. The state has sanctioned Rs 350 crore for this work, he said. "The work, involving the appointment of a project management consultant and a New Zealand architect, is expected to take 1.5 years," he said, adding that the new state-of-the-art aquarium would attract tourists from around the world. After being shut during the Covid lockdown, over 75-year-old aquarium was in 2022 declared structurally unsafe, following which plans to redevelop it had been under consideration. tnn You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
'Do Amir Khan, Javed Akhtar Speak Marathi?' Maharashtra Minister Slams MNS Over Language Row
Nitesh Rane condemned MNS workers for assaulting a shopkeeper over language row. He warned of government action if attacks persist. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane expressed strong dejection over the recent assault on a shopkeeper, who refused to speak Marathi. Rane warned the Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers, who assaulted the shopkeeper, and said if such attacks continue on Hindus then the government will open its 'third eye". The minister also questioned that why MNS workers don't have the courage to beat up Muslims who also cannot speak Marathi and if celebrities like Javed Akhtar and Aamir Khan speak in Marathi? While addressing media, Rane was quoted by ANI as saying, 'A Hindu was beaten up for not speaking Marathi. If they have the courage, go to Null Bazaar, Mohammed Ali road and tell people there to speak Marathi… They don't have the courage to go there and beat up those cap-wearers. Do Javed Akhtar and Aamir Khan speak in Marathi? Why beat up a poor Hindu?…" Nitish Rane's Statement On Thane Assault #WATCH | Mumbai | On a viral video of a shop owner in Thane assaulted for purportedly refusing to speak in Marathi, Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane says, 'A Hindu was beaten up for not speaking Marathi. If they have the courage, go to Null Bazaar, Mohammed Ali road and tell… — ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2025 On Tuesday, a group of men, wearing Raj Thackeray led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) scarves, allegedly assaulted a shop owner for denying to speak in Marathi. An FIR was registered at the Kashimira police station in Mira-Bhayander against seven persons on a complaint by the shop owner and issued notices to three of them. As per the FIR, on June 29, seven unidentified men entered Mira Road (East) located shop 'Jodhpur Sweets and Namkeen', they asked the owner of the shop about his identity and then asked them what language is spoken in Maharashtra. The owner responded that all languages are spoken in the state, hearing this, the crowd became aggressive and allegedly assaulted the shopkeeper. view comments First Published: July 04, 2025, 14:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
'I've Become MLA With Hindu Votes, DNA Of Mumbai Is...' Nitesh Rane Amid Language Row
Last Updated: BJP leader Nitesh Rane sparked controversy by calling Muslims "green snakes" and claiming he became an MLA with Hindu votes, amid tensions over the Marathi language issue. BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane on Friday sparked controversy with remarks on voting patterns, referring to Muslims as 'green snakes". He said that he has become an MLA with the support of Hindu voters amid ongoing tensions over the Marathi language issue in Mumbai. Addressing a public gathering, Rane said, 'The ones wearing round caps and beards did not vote for me. I have become an MLA with the votes of Hindus." 'If I do not support Hindus, will I support those who speak Urdu?… They are green snakes… The DNA of Mumbai is Hindu," he added. Mumbai, Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane says, 'The ones wearing round caps and beards did not vote for me. I have become an MLA with the votes of Hindus. If I do not support Hindus, will I support those who speak Urdu?… They are green snakes… The DNA of Mumbai is Hindu." — ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2025 Rane was responding to recent debates surrounding the usage of the Marathi language and allegations that Hindus were being singled out for not using Marathi in public spaces. Earlier, Rane criticised Uddhav and Raj Thackeray's joint rally in Mumbai, dubbing it a joint rally of 'jihadi and anti-Hindu gathering" aimed at dividing society and weakening the state. After 20 years, the estranged brothers from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena (UBT) shared the stage in a rally targeting the alleged Hindi language imposition in the state. Rane accused the MNS party of inaction, claiming they would not act against the accused because he is a Sheikh, and alleged that the party selectively targets only poor Hindus. Nitesh Rane said, 'His name is Rahil Sheikh, and they will not release his video. They will only target poor Hindus because they have taken the contract to divide this Hindu rashtra. They have taken a contract to appease jihadis. The rules they impose on Hindus, when will they impose the same rules on the Sheikh? This has been our question from the beginning. This is clear politics. They won't take action on Sheikh. They become soft went they roam on Mohammad Ali Road and Behrampada," reported ANI. The controversy erupted in April after the Maharashtra government made it compulsory for state-run primary schools to teach Hindi as a third language. The move sparked intense backlash from civil society, language activists, and opposition leaders, who alleged an attempt to impose Hindi. Eventually, the BJP-led government in Maharashtra had to retract the policy. view comments First Published: July 11, 2025, 17:32 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Scroll.in
4 days ago
- 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
