Nitesh Rane slams Rahul Gandhi's Chhatron Ki Goonj as 'Goonj of Sharia'
Synopsis
Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane did not hold back — calling Rahul Gandhi's student outreach programme a vehicle for Sharia, alleging Pakistan-scripted politics, and warning of a Hindu nationalist response. The broadside hits Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sonia Gandhi in one sweep, signalling that Maharashtra's BJP is sharpening its Hindutva edge ahead of upcoming political battles.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane on 2 September called Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme the 'Goonj of Sharia' , alleging it promoted Sharia rather than student interests.
Rane alleged, without evidence, that Gandhi's statements were scripted by Pakistani handlers — a charge the Congress has consistently denied.
He attacked Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray , contrasting it unfavourably with the Hindutva legacy of the late Balasaheb Thackeray .
Rane criticised Sonia Gandhi over her reported remarks on Vande Mataram , calling it divisive and appeasement politics.
He named Umar Khalid as a concern and distanced his criticism from CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke personally.
Rane praised Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and warned that the government would act against all forces he deemed anti-national.
Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane on Wednesday, 2 September launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, alleging that Gandhi's student outreach programme 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' was not a genuine platform for students but an attempt to promote Sharia in India. Rane's remarks, delivered in Mumbai, escalated the political temperature between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress ahead of continued electoral skirmishes in Maharashtra.
Rane's Charge Against Chhatron Ki Goonj
Rane alleged that the programme's content was tilted against Hindus rather than focused on student welfare. 'I feel that Rahul Gandhi Ji's programme named Chhatron Ki Goonj is not the goonj of students; it is the Goonj of Sharia. Because sitting in that programme, if all they do is take a stance against Hindus, abuse Manusmriti, stand up for women wearing hijabs and then ask why they do not get freedom and all that... Hey, brother, if you go and say all this in an Urdu school or a madrasa, it would be appropriate,' Rane said.
He further alleged, without providing evidence, that the programme was being shaped by forces outside India, claiming that statements made by Gandhi were mirrored in Pakistan's parliament. The BJP leader accused Gandhi of acting in the interest of what he described as 'bosses in Pakistan who are giving him scripts' — a charge the Congress has consistently denied in similar past controversies.
Attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) and Uddhav Thackeray
Rane also took aim at the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, drawing a pointed contrast with the party founded by the late Balasaheb Thackeray. He argued that the original Shiv Sena was rooted in Hindutva ideology and support for a Hindu Rashtra, while the current Shiv Sena (UBT) had strayed from those principles. 'There is a world of difference between that Shiv Sena and the present Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Ji,' he said.
Remarks on Sonia Gandhi and Vande Mataram
Rane also revisited the controversy over senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's reported remarks on Vande Mataram, alleging that she had said the national song should not be recited in full. 'When Sonia Gandhi says that the full Vande Mataram should not be recited, is that not divisive politics?' he asked, framing the episode as evidence of what he called appeasement politics by the Congress.
On CJP, Umar Khalid and Anti-National Forces
Addressing questions about Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, Rane said his objection was not to Dipke personally but to what he described as forces using the CJP platform to make anti-national statements. He specifically named Umar Khalid as a target of his concern, alleging that slogans calling for the division of India had been raised under the cover of the CJP agitation.
Warning to Anti-National Forces and Praise for Yogi Adityanath
Rane issued a stern warning to those he described as working against the nation, saying the government was monitoring such forces and would respond decisively. He also praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, describing him as a 'patriot and passionate Hindu,' and drew a comparison with the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh and Pakistan to argue that Hindus defending their identity in India were not in the wrong. Rane also dismissed Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Amit Thackeray's political statements, saying that rhetoric alone had not translated into electoral success for the MNS. The BJP's Maharashtra unit is expected to continue pressing the Hindutva plank ahead of upcoming political contests in the state.
Point of View
And responsible coverage must note that. What is notable is the breadth of the broadside: Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), Sonia Gandhi, CJP, and Umar Khalid are all rolled into a single narrative of anti-national threat. That sweep suggests the BJP is attempting to consolidate a unified Hindu vote rather than engage on the substance of Chhatron Ki Goonj — a student outreach programme whose actual content merits independent scrutiny.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme?
'Chhatron Ki Goonj' is a student outreach initiative by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, aimed at engaging with students on issues affecting them. Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane has alleged that the programme promotes Sharia rather than genuine student interests — a charge the Congress has not accepted.
What exactly did Nitesh Rane say about Rahul Gandhi?
Rane alleged that Chhatron Ki Goonj was the 'Goonj of Sharia', claiming the programme took stances against Hindus, defended hijab-wearing, and abused Manusmriti. He also alleged, without evidence, that Gandhi's talking points were scripted by Pakistani handlers, pointing to what he described as similarities between Gandhi's statements and those made in Pakistan's parliament.
Why did Rane attack Shiv Sena (UBT) and Uddhav Thackeray?
Rane argued that Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) has abandoned the Hindutva ideology championed by the late Balasaheb Thackeray. He described the original Shiv Sena as a party of Hindu Rashtra, contrasting it sharply with what he called the ideological drift of the current Shiv Sena (UBT).
What was Rane's objection to Sonia Gandhi's Vande Mataram remarks?
Rane alleged that Sonia Gandhi had said the full Vande Mataram should not be recited and that it should be stopped after three stanzas. He called this divisive and appeasement politics, arguing that genuine secularism must include respect for Hindu sentiments.
Who is Umar Khalid and why did Rane mention him?
Umar Khalid is a former student activist who has been in custody in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case. Rane cited him while addressing questions about CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, saying his concern was not with Dipke personally but with forces he alleged had used the CJP platform to make anti-national statements, including raising slogans for dividing India.
