Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, National President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, on Monday sharply criticised Maharashtra Minister Nitish Rane over his suggestion that Muslims celebrate 'virtual Qurbani' during Bakrid, asserting that Islam is a practical religion with no room for symbolic substitutes. The cleric, speaking from Bareilly, accused Rane of ignorance about Islamic traditions and the historical role of madrasas in India.

What Nitish Rane Said

The controversy began on Sunday when Rane, addressing a public event, drew a comparison between environmental advisories issued during Hindu festivals and the practice of animal sacrifice during Bakrid. 'In our Holi festival, it is said that Holi should be celebrated as per the environment, celebrate dry Holi… In the Diwali celebration, they say do not burst crackers… They should advise people to celebrate virtual Bakrid by putting a picture of a goat on the computer and virtually showing it being sacrificed,' Rane said. The Maharashtra minister also renewed his criticism of madrasas, alleging that such institutions were 'centres of terrorism' that provided no meaningful education.

The Cleric's Rebuttal

Maulana Barelvi rejected the 'virtual sacrifice' concept outright, stating that Islamic practice is grounded in physical observance and religious principle. 'There is nothing like virtual in Islam; it only talks about the practical. Islam has its principles, which are followed by the followers of Islam,' he said. He further emphasised that the tradition of Qurbani is an enduring pillar of Islamic practice: 'Qurbani has always been performed and will always be performed in future.'

Defence of Madrasas

Responding to Rane's characterisation of madrasas as hubs of radicalisation, Maulana Barelvi invoked India's independence movement as evidence of their constructive legacy. 'Nitish Rane says that madrasas are the centre of terrorism. This shows that Nitish Rane is ignorant and he does not have any knowledge about Islam or madrasas. I would like to tell him that the freedom movement from 1857 to 1947 was fought by the Ulemas and people from madrasas,' he said. The cleric advised Rane to study Islamic history before making public statements on the subject.

Broader Context

The exchange is the latest in a series of politically charged statements around religious practices and minority institutions ahead of the Bakrid celebrations. Rane has previously drawn criticism from Muslim community leaders for remarks on Islamic observances. Notably, debates over animal sacrifice during Eid al-Adha have periodically surfaced in Indian political discourse, often intersecting with environmental concerns and communal sensitivities. The All India Muslim Jamaat's response signals that community leaders intend to push back firmly against what they describe as misinformed commentary from elected officials.

With Bakrid approaching, the political temperature around the issue is likely to remain elevated, and further reactions from community organisations and political parties are expected in the coming days.