Maharashtra BJP leader and state minister Nitesh Rane has ignited fierce backlash after his controversial statement urging the replacement of Urdu language and the Azaan in madrasas with Marathi, warning otherwise “all you get from there is a gun.”
Rane made the statement during a political address, asserting that madrasas must start using Marathi to align with Maharashtra’s cultural identity. “If Urdu and Azaan aren’t replaced with Marathi and prayers to Shivaji Maharaj, these institutions will only produce violence,” he claimed, drawing sharp condemnation from opposition parties and minority groups.
Opposition leaders, including those from Congress and AIMIM, have accused Rane of spreading hate and communal division. Critics argue the minister’s remarks not only vilify an entire religious community but also threaten constitutional rights to religious freedom and linguistic diversity.
Civil society groups and education advocates have also slammed the statement, demanding an apology and calling for disciplinary action against Rane. The remarks have once again highlighted the growing politicisation of minority institutions and religious practices in India.
