‘Apologise or …’: Nitesh Rane sent notice for calling Malegaon ‘Mini Pakistan’
Bhartiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Narayan Rane has been sent a legal notice Monday February 05, 2024 over his derogatory remark against the Malegaonians and calling Malegaon “Mini Pakistan’. Read More
Malegaon: The Bhartiya Janata Party MLA, Nitesh Narayan Rane, has been sent a legal notice Monday February 05, 2024 over his derogatory remarks against the Malegaonians and calling Malegaon “Mini Pakistan’.
“We have sent a legal notice to Nitesh Rane for insulting the people of Malegaon and calling Malegaon Mini Pakistan”, Advocate Azeem Khan told reporters.
In the legal notice sent to him, Nitesh Rane – the BJP MLA from Kankavli Vidhan Sabha constituency of Maharashtra, has been asked to apologise within seven days.
“In the notice, Nitesh Rane has been asked to apologise unconditionally within seven days failing which he will have to face a criminal case for his derogatory remarks against Malegaon and the people of the City”, Advocate Azeem Khan said.
'Malegaon is the City of Nationalist Muslims'
Advocate Khan further said that Malegaon is the City of Nationalist Muslims where Hindus and Muslims are living in total harmony.
“Malegaon is the City of nationalist Muslims and has nothing to do with anti-National activities. Such statements are deliberate attempt to vitiate the peaceful situation in the City and gain political mileage”, Khan said.
“Hindu and Muslims live in the City with total harmony. In the last more than 15 years, there has not been a single incident of communal clashes in Malegaon. Such statements are purposely being made to create tension”, Advocate Khan alleged.
Role of Police under scanner
Advocate Khan also criticised the local police and accused it of “working under pressure”.
“The local police should have taken cognizance of Nitish Rane the moment he compared Malegaon with Pakistan. The police, possibly because Rane belongs to the ruling party, did not take any action against him”, Khan said.
The legal notice to BJP MLA Nitesh Rane has been sent on behalf of former Malegaon MLA Asif Sheikh Rasheed.
“We will bring Nitesh Rane to Malegaon Court if he does not apologise to his derogatory comments within the stipulated period”, Shaikh Asif said.
'Unnecessary Provocation'
Slamming Nitesh Rane’s Maharashtra Minister Dada Bhuse said the BJP leader should avoid indulging in unnecessary provocation.
“As a politician, Rane is free to raise issues of public interests. But labelling the entire City is improper and unnecessary provocation”, he said.
“It would be fair on his part if Rane avoids making such sweeping statements”, he added.
Dada Bhuse, a Cabinet Minister in the Maharashtra Government. A strong Shiv Sena leader of the Nashik district, Bhuse revolted against his parent party and joined Eknath Shinde Sena last year.
Three days ago, registering their anger, Malegaon Samajwadi Party workers led by Shan e Hind Nihal Ahmed and Mustaqeem Dignity submitted a representation at Malegaon City Police Station demanding suo-moto legal action against Nitesh Rane.
How it all started?
It all started after Malegaon Power Supply Limited (MPSL) – a private contractor, accused "huge amount of electricity and power theft" in the City.
The MPSL in January this year said there is a difference of more than 3,00 crore rupees in the power consumed and the actual electricity it supplies.
Commenting on the MPSL claims, Nitish Rane talking to local media accused the people of Malegaon of stealing electricity and instead of paying electcricity bills, the saved amount is used for “land jihad, love jihad and other anti-national activities”, Rane alleged.
In the same vein, Rane also called Malegaon “Mini Pakistan”.
Malegaon, popular for its textile and powerloom industry, over 75 per cent local population is of Muslims.
“Nitesh Rane’s rants against Malegaon and its people is because of the majority population of the City who are Muslims”, Adovacte Khan said.
Khan said Nitesh Rane has made false allegations against the people of Malegaon earlier too.
“Recently, he said cow vigilantes and gau rakshaks are attacked in Malegaon. The fact of the matter is exactly opposite. It is the gau rakshaks who routinely attack the cattle traders”, Advocate Khan said.
Power Theft Myth
Malegaon has added around 225,000 new power looms since 1976 when there were only 60,000 to 70,000 looms in the City.
Despite the installations of new looms in such a huge number, the electricity infrastructure in the city however has never been upgraded and it remained as it was in 1976, local weavers claimed.
“Malegaon Power Supply Limited (MPSL) had committed to improve the electric infrastructure of the City at the time of signing the contract. It had till now done on this front. And, this is open secret that the electricity company is incurring losses because of poor infrastructure and over-loaded decades old transformers”, Mufti Ismael, Malegaon Central MLA, said.
“The MPSL instead of amending its mistakes issuing misleading data which is then used to malign the people of Malegaon”, he added.
Nitish Rane has been in the recent days found in anti-Muslim rants a handy tool to garner space in the media. Also in the last month, Rane was accused of making provocative and inflammatory comments following the communal clashes in the Muslim dominated areas of Mira Road in Mumbai Suburbs.
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