Muslims seek FIR against Maharashtra minister Rane over inflammatory remarks
Complaint cites derogatory comments about Quran and Muslims, says they could fuel communal hostility
Mumbai: A group of Muslims have filed a police complaint against Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane over what they described as derogatory and inflammatory remarks about the Holy Quran and Muslims, saying his statements could promote communal hostility and demanding registration of an FIR against him.
The complaint related to remarks Rane reportedly made at the inauguration of the 21st branch of “Krishna Hindu Bekari” in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, on September 13.
On Friday, a delegation of Muslims led by local leaders of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) visited the Kondhwa Police Station in Pune and demanded that police register an FIR against Rane.
Speaking to media, Azhar Tamboli, state president of SDPI in Pune, said police told the delegation that the alleged remarks were made in Mumbai and that it would take some time to register the FIR.
“Rane had said that it is written in the Quran that Muslim will get reward for feeding something mixed with saliva. He had called for economic boycott against Muslims. There is a video of his remarks. Often, he used to target Muslims with his hate speeches. Now, he made remarks about the holy Quran,” Tamboli said.
Tamboli said the delegation would continue pressing the police to register the FIR.
“We will force the police to file the FIR at any cost. If the police fail to do it, we will employ other avenues, including moving to the court,” he said.
The complaint, submitted to the senior police inspector of Kondhwa Police Station and copied to the Pune Police Commissioner, Maharashtra Director General of Police, Maharashtra State Minorities Commission and Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, seeks registration of an FIR under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, as well as applicable provisions of the Information Technology Act.
The complaint states that the speech was subsequently widely circulated on YouTube and Facebook. The complainant said that Rane made statements about Muslims that were “hateful,” “false” and provocative, and that the remarks had the potential to create hostility between religious communities.
The complaint also calls on police to immediately register an FIR against Rane and seize and preserve the relevant videos, social-media posts and other electronic evidence related to the speech and its circulation.
