Complaint Filed Against BJP MLA Nitesh Rane for Alleged Hate Speech During Ram Navami
Allegations of Hate Speech
A formal complaint has been lodged against Nitesh Rane, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, for purportedly delivering hate speech during a Ram Navami procession in the Malvani locality of Mumbai, as reported by a local news outlet.
The complaint was submitted by a resident named Shanul Syed at the Malvani police station on Friday. Syed claims that Rane's speech, given the previous day, was 'provocative, inflammatory, and offensive to Muslims.'
According to Syed, Rane's remarks could incite public disorder and disrupt communal harmony in the region.
Social media footage captures Rane addressing the Ram Navami event, where he threatened that anyone who gazed at the saffron flag with malice would face severe consequences, stating he would 'play marbles' with them.
This incident follows rising tensions over attempts by Hindu community members to raise a saffron flag near a mosque, which reportedly resulted in a confrontation the previous night. A video of this altercation has circulated widely online.
During his address, Rane also asserted that 'some individuals may have forgotten that this is a Hindu Rashtra [Hindu nation],' as noted by another news source.
He further remarked, 'This is not anyone’s father’s Pakistan.'
Maharashtra BJP MLA Nitesh Rane made objectionable comments during the grand Ramnavami procession in Mumbai, where he issued a direct threat, stating he would "gouge out the eyes" of anyone who looked at the religion with ill intent.
— The Siasat Daily (@TheSiasatDaily) March 27, 2026
"Maybe some people might have forgotten that… pic.twitter.com/PFIMTFpFyd
Rane has a history of making inflammatory comments aimed at Muslims, which has drawn criticism from opposition figures.
In November, he controversially suggested that non-Hindus should be barred from setting up stalls at the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik.
Earlier in July, he claimed that the opposition should encourage Muslims to teach Marathi in madrasas and recite the azaan in that language instead of Urdu, implying that 'otherwise, all you get from there is a gun.' The azaan is traditionally recited in Arabic.
In June, Rane stirred further controversy by questioning why environmentalists and animal rights activists were not advocating for a virtual celebration of Bakri Eid, alleging that they only targeted Hindu festivals like Holi and Diwali.
Bakri Eid, also known as Eid-al-Adha, is a significant Muslim festival that commemorates sacrifice through the slaughter of livestock.
Maharashtra Minority Commission chairperson Pyare Khan criticized Rane for his remarks, suggesting that he was inciting divisions and targeting Indian Muslims under the guise of referencing Pakistan.
In April 2025, Khan accused Rane of engaging in hate speech after he allegedly encouraged Hindus to inquire about the religious affiliations of shopkeepers before making purchases.
In his recent complaint, Syed highlighted previous cases against Rane for similar comments, noting that multiple FIRs have been filed against him in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region over the years.
Out of 12 FIRs registered in the region, five were filed in 2024 alone, including two at the Malvani police station.