The Ahmednagar police have registered two FIRs against Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Rane for alleged hate speech. Members of the Muslim community protested against the Kankavali MLA's provocative statement. Also, after demanding action against them, an FIR was registered in Srirampur and Tofkhana police stations. Rane addressed two public meetings in Srirampur and Tofkhana on Sunday in support of Hindu Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj, who last month made derogatory remarks about Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
In videos from two rallies that have gone viral, Rane is seen threatening to kill members of the Muslim community if they speak against Ramgiri Maharaj. “I am threatening you in a language you understand. If you speak anything against our Ramgiri Maharaj, we will enter your mosque and beat you one by one. Remember this," Nitesh Rane said in the video.
Due to Rane's statement, a lot of Muslims gathered outside Ahmednagar Superintendent of Police office on Sunday and demanded to file a case against the BJP MLA. Later on Sunday night, the police registered two FIRs against Rane. Rane is likely to be called for police questioning in the next day or two. In a post on Twitter, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader and former MLA Waris Pathan requested Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to arrest Rane for spreading hatred against Muslims.
“This is inflammatory and hate speech. He said that BJP is trying to create communal violence in Maharashtra before the assembly elections. Responding to the criticism, Rane said on Monday, “My statement was a reaction to an action. My statement was to assure the Hindus that they should be afraid and that I am a Hindu Gabbar Singh."
Last month, Ramgiri Maharaj was also booked by the police at several places in Maharashtra due to his offensive statements.
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