‘Mumbai’s DNA is Hindu’: BJP’s Nitesh Rane stirs controversy amid language row in Maharashtra

Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane said on Friday that his win as an MLA depended entirely on Hindu voters amid the ongoing Marathi language tensions in Mumbai. At a public event, he declared, “I became an MLA with Hindu votes. Those wearing round caps and beards didn’t vote for me.”

Rane added, “If I don’t support Hindus, should I support Urdu speakers? They are green snakes… the DNA of Mumbai is Hindu.” He made the comments in response to criticism over the alleged targeting of Hindus for not speaking Marathi in public spaces.

Earlier, Rane had also slammed Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray's joint rally in Mumbai, calling it “a jihadi and anti-Hindu gathering” meant to divide society. The two leaders—once estranged—had come together for the first time in 20 years to protest perceived imposition of Hindi in the state.