Opposition slams Nitesh Rane for ‘fuelling communal tensions’ with azaan remark

Opposition leaders slammed Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane on Wednesday (July 16, 2025) for suggesting that Marathi should be used in madrasas and for Azaan (call to prayer) and accused him of fuelling communal trouble for political gains.

BJP leader Mr. Rane remarked, “Opposition should ask Muslims to recite the azaan in Marathi instead of Urdu, and teach Marathi in madrasas. All you get from there is a gun.” Mr. Rane’s comments came in response to the Congress reportedly starting Marathi pathshalas (schools) in several parts of Mumbai.

His comments have drawn criticism from the Opposition, who claim he is spreading hatred with “inflammatory” comments.

Politically motivated

Condemning the remark, NCP-SP State president Shashikant Shinde said, “Mr. Rane, being a Minister, should raise such issues in the Cabinet and not publicly; who is stopping him?”

NCP-SP leader Rohit Pawar called Mr. Rane’s remarks politically motivated, similar to the Hindu-Muslim card used in the Lok Sabha elections, and Marathi versus non-Marathi in local polls . “It is the Home Ministry’s duty to investigate whether the madrassa has guns or bombs. Mr. Rane should not divide people for politics, or fuel communal sentiments,” said Mr. Pawar.

AIMIM leader Waris Pathan also slammed Mr. Rane for creating unrest in the name of language and religion. “BJP leaders are spreading hatred for the political gains in Maharashtra, he added.”

Congress Leader Amin Patel said madrasasalready use English, Hindi, and Marathi, while azaan is in Arabic. Language and religion are two different things. “Is Nitesh Rane himself taking any Marathi classes?” he asked sarcastically.