Opposition leaders on Monday sharply condemned Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane over his reportedly communally charged remarks urging Hindus to purchase goods exclusively from Hindu-owned shops during festivals, including the Nashik Kumbh Mela and Diwali. Critics across party lines accused Rane of deliberately stoking religious divisions and called on him to retract his statements.

What Rane Allegedly Said

Rane reportedly made the remarks while addressing a public gathering, asserting that Hindus should buy festival goods only from Hindu traders and that Muslim vendors should be barred from participating in the Nashik Kumbh Mela. He allegedly claimed that money spent at Muslim-owned shops would be channelled toward extremism — a charge opponents say is inflammatory and unsubstantiated. Rane also reportedly called on Hindus to limit their social interactions to fellow Hindus, warning that Muslims would similarly restrict Hindu participation in their own religious celebrations.

Opposition Fires Back

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Bhai Virendra did not hold back in his criticism. 'Some people are opportunists who would switch parties at any time to get a position in the cabinet. They don't have any original thoughts. They only work to spread riots and communal hatred in the country,' Virendra said. He added that those who incite violence through their words ultimately suffer the consequences of it as well. Virendra also invoked the nation's freedom struggle, stressing that Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs had fought together for independence and that India is a secular nation, not a Hindu nation. He demanded that Rane formally withdraw his remarks and issue a public apology.

Senior Indian National Congress (Congress) leader Vijay Wadettiwar questioned how a serving minister could make such statements, reminding Rane of the oath of office he had taken. 'Being a minister, he should be aware of the Constitution. He should remember that he took an oath. He is there just to incite animosity between the two religions. This is RSS and BJP's scheme,' Wadettiwar said, adding, 'Are they caretakers of Hindus? It has become their job to create differences between the two religions.'

Senior Congress leader and former MP Hussain Dalwai argued that Rane had no authority to issue such directives and dismissed any suggestion that his words would alter consumer behaviour. 'People are not going to follow this. Only those items will be sold that are of quality and cost-effective. People are not going to see whether the shopkeeper is Hindu or Muslim. Thinking that this statement will have an impact is wrong,' Dalwai said. He maintained that decisions of this nature fall within the Chief Minister's remit, not a junior minister's.

Background and Context

Nitesh Rane, son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Congress-turned-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narayan Rane, has previously drawn attention for outspoken and at times controversial public statements. The current remarks arrive ahead of the Nashik Kumbh Mela, a major religious congregation that historically has drawn vendors and pilgrims from across faiths and communities. Calls to exclude traders on the basis of religion at such events have, in the past, been contested in courts as well as in public discourse. Notably, similar appeals for religion-based purchasing decisions have periodically surfaced in Indian political discourse, particularly around festival seasons, and have consistently drawn condemnation from secular and civil society groups.

Demands and What Comes Next

Opposition leaders have collectively demanded that Rane publicly retract his remarks and apologise. There has been no formal response from Rane or the Maharashtra government as of Monday. With the Nashik Kumbh Mela approaching and Diwali on the horizon, the remarks are likely to remain a flashpoint in the state's already charged political environment. All eyes are now on whether the ruling dispensation moves to distance itself from the minister's position or allows the controversy to deepen.