Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly criticized Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane for his controversial remark describing Kerala as “mini Pakistan.” Vijayan condemned the statement as “deeply malicious” and “utterly condemnable,” asserting that it reflects the hate campaigns propagated by the Sangh Parivar against Kerala, which he called a “bastion of secularism and communal harmony.”
In a post on X, Vijayan wrote, “The derogatory remark by Maharashtra Fisheries and Ports Minister @NiteshNRane, labelling Kerala as ‘mini-Pakistan,’ is deeply malicious & utterly condemnable. Such rhetoric reflects the hate campaigns orchestrated by the Sangh Parivar against Kerala, a bastion of secularism & communal harmony. We strongly denounce this vile attack on Kerala and call upon all democratic & secular forces to unite against Sangh Parivar’s hateful propaganda.”
Nitesh Rane, son of BJP leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane, holds the fisheries and ports portfolios in the Devendra Fadnavis government. During a public event, Rane targeted Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, stating that they were elected from Kerala’s Wayanad because the state is a “mini Pakistan.” He added, “Kerala is mini Pakistan, which is why Rahul Gandhi and his sister are elected from there. All terrorists vote for them. This is the truth, you can ask. They have become MPs after taking terrorists with them.”
The remark sparked widespread criticism from opposition parties. Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe questioned the appropriateness of such statements from a minister, saying, “What else can one expect from Nitesh Rane? However, I want to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Devendra Fadnavis—should a person who labels a state as Pakistan and its voters as ‘terrorists’ remain in a ministerial position?”
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey linked Rane’s comments to BJP’s electoral insecurities, stating, “BJP leaders are worried since Prime Minister Modi won only by a lakh votes, and they cannot digest Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s win by a margin of 4 lakh votes.”
Clyde Crasto, spokesperson for the NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar, demanded clarification from the BJP, remarking, “Nitesh Rane always speaks like this. The BJP must clarify whether they agree with these statements. Such remarks insult the people of Kerala and the entire nation.”
Amid the backlash, Rane issued a clarification, stating, “Kerala is very much part of India. However, the decreasing Hindu population and the increasing religious conversions to Islam and Christianity are issues everyone should be concerned about.”
