‘Hindus should only engage with Hindus in property deals’: MLA Nitesh Rane remark sparks row | Navi Mumbai News – Times of India

MLA Nitesh Rane’s controversial remarks in Ulwe have led to protests by AIMIM, who argue that his statements against dealing with non-Hindus in property transactions violate India’s secular principles and Constitution.

NAVI MUMBAI: MLA Nitesh Rane‘s remarks in Ulwe on Thursday that Hindus should get into property deals with people of their religion only has created another controversy.
Rane asked real estate brokers to take an oath that they would not deal with non-Hindus and would check Aadhaar cards before making any property deals. Rane was addressing a gathering as part of his visit to a Ganesh pandal puja.
The AIMIM has started protesting against Rane’s remark. The AIMIM said it was protesting because Rane’s speech in Ulwe was against the secular fabric of the country and his words were against the Constitution.
Rane’s remark came days after he said in a speech that anyone harming a Hindu seer, Ramgiri Maharaj, would be served in kind. FIRs were filed against him at various police stations after the video of the speech went viral.
In Ulwe, Rane was addressing a gathering of devotees and real estate brokers. Referring to a particular religion, he said its scriptures advocated either conversion or killing of Hindus. He challenged any religious scholar of that faith to come forward and deny it.
He called upon the gathering to leave aside ‘sarva dharma samabhava’ (equal respect for all religions) and ‘bhaichaaracha dongar'(hill of brotherhood). “We should only care for Hindus,” he said.
He pointed at the condition of Hindus in Pakistan, Bangladesh and other Islamic countries.
The MLA assured the locals of Sector 19, Ulwe, they could call him for assistance over his helpline number whenever they felt threatened, and he would reach out to them within 10 minutes.