Mumbai, September 2: Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane has reiterated a firm stance on the hijab and burqa, stating that if demands arise to ban hijabs in public spaces, the Hindutva-oriented state government may consider it positively.
In an exclusive interview with a news agency, Rane emphasized that the government in Maharashtra is guided by Hindutva ideology and will certainly deliberate on such issues. He noted that the government has already enacted laws against ‘love jihad’ and has taken action to remove alleged illegal structures and shrines from the forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, aiming to curb ‘land jihad.’
Regarding a potential decision on the hijab, Rane mentioned that if deemed necessary, the government could take stringent action in this direction. He aligned this with the state’s Hindutva perspective. Referring to a recent controversy at Cooper Hospital in Mumbai, he stated that the hospital administration’s actions were appropriate for preventing wrongful activities.
In response to the Cooper Hospital incident, Rane claimed that the hijab and burqa have been used in some cases to commit crimes or to conceal identities. He cited instances of cheating in schools and colleges, alleged fraudulent voting, and child abductions. However, he did not provide specific cases or official statistics to support these claims.
Rane asserted that he has heard of similar incidents in other hospitals in Mumbai, where the hijab or burqa was reportedly involved in child abductions. He stated that if a hospital adopts such a stance for security reasons, it is justified, as these measures aim to prevent wrongful activities or the recurrence of past incidents.
He pointed out that different policies exist regarding hijabs and burqas in Muslim-majority and Islamic countries. Based on this, he questioned why calls for a ban on hijabs in public spaces should not be welcomed in India if some countries have implemented such restrictions.
Rane also defended the government’s handling of law and order issues. Referring to an incident in Mazgaon where eggs were thrown, he stated that the Maharashtra police are capable, having arrested the accused within 24 hours and filed cases against them.
He highlighted that both the Maharashtra and central governments are guided by Hindutva ideology. Mentioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Rane noted that the Hindu community elected the government with the expectation of ensuring their safety. According to him, ministers are placed in the government with this responsibility.
Rane criticized the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction (UBT) and Congress, questioning why these parties have not raised their voices regarding the alleged murder of a Hindu youth in Ahilyanagar.
He stated that political parties claiming to be secular and advocating for equal respect for all religions and ‘Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb’ should also speak out on such matters. Rane accused some political parties of being vocal on hijab or burqa issues while remaining silent on matters concerning Hindus.
He concluded by asserting that it is up to political parties to decide their stance or ideology, but those claiming the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray should reflect on their political positions.
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