'Love Jihad, Land Jihad Now Vote Jihad': BJP MLA Nitesh Rane's Controversial Claim

Maharashtra BJP MLA Nitesh Rane recently stated that he will not allow vote Jihad in the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra. The term ‘vote Jihad’ is being used by the BJP leaders to claim that the Muslim community has overwhelmingly voted against the saffron party, especially after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP had faced electoral setback in the general election though it managed to form the government at the Centre with the support of its allies.

The saffron party leader stated that he was not afraid of the multiple FIRs about hate speeches registered against him while asserting that he has not done anything wrong but took side of his dharma. It has however been alleged that from love jihad to vote jihad, Hindutva becomes core plank for BJP’s campaign in Maharashtra, igniting debate on the effective enforcement of model code of conduct.

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Rane has been booked by police for hate speeches against minorities several times. The latest case was registered against the BJP MLA for targeting the minority community at his speech delivered in a Ganpati program in Navi Mumbai. During the event, Nitesh Rane was heard commenting that if anyone says anything against religious leader Ramgiri Maharaj, “We will enter your mosques and hit you one by one. Keep this in mind.” There are more than half a dozen RIRs against the two-time MLA over hate speeches.

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Rane then alleged that the vote jihad has happened during the recent Lok Sabha elections, adding that he would not allow the same in the upcoming elections. “If you think the law should be the same for Hindus and Muslims, then why are you doing love jihad, land jihad, and vote jihad?” he asked.

“I am going to be mentioned as a Hindu on my birth and death certificate. If I am being blamed for a hate crime just because I am trying to take the side of my own dharma, my community, or religion, I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. I have absolutely not done anything wrong,” Rane was heard saying in an interview with news agency PTI. The BJP nominee, who is contesting from Kankavli, had earlier accused the Congress of being an anti-Hindu and pro-Muslim League party.