By :- Shruti Tiwari
Mumbai: Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane has made a scathing attack on Bollywood personalities Aamir Khan and Javed Akhtar while reacting to a recent incident in Mumbai where a food stall owner was allegedly assaulted for not speaking in Marathi. The incident, which was caught on camera, has reignited a political and communal storm in the state.
In a viral video, alleged workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) can be seen confronting a food stall vendor and demanding that he speak in Marathi. When he refuses, they are seen physically assaulting him. The video has since sparked a public outcry, with widespread condemnation on social media.
“Poor Hindu speaks Hindi, he gets beaten”
Reacting to the incident, Nitesh Rane said, “If a poor Hindu speaks in Hindi, he is beaten up. But no one talks about speaking Marathi in areas like Null Bazaar or Mohammed Ali Road.” Taking a direct jab at Aamir Khan and Javed Akhtar, Rane asked, “Do they speak Marathi? No. But no one dares question them.”
He further added, “If you really have courage, go to Muslim-dominated areas like Null Bazaar and Mohammed Ali Road and ask people wearing skullcaps to speak Marathi. Do you have the guts to assault them there?”
Calls for strict action and government response
Rane warned that the government would not tolerate bullying of Hindus and said strict action would be taken against anyone trying to enforce language through violence. “Now the government will open its third eye,” he said.
He emphasized that law must prevail and communal targeting based on language will not be tolerated. “Anyone who thinks they can bully Hindus will face strong legal consequences,” he asserted.
Rane also commented on Disha Salian case
In the same press conference, Rane also addressed the Disha Salian death case, which has once again made headlines. He welcomed the matter being in court, stating, “If Aditya Thackeray has nothing to do with it, then why be afraid of the investigation? No one admits they committed murder. If Disha deserves justice, the truth must come out.”
Comments on Pune rape case
Rane further reacted to the recent rape case in Pune, saying such heinous crimes occur when there is no fear of the law. “If strict action had been taken in cases like Disha Salian’s, maybe such shameful incidents wouldn’t happen,” he said.