'Recite Adhaan in Marathi', says BJP leader

July 17, 2025 by News Desk

Opposition leaders across party lines have strongly criticized Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane for his controversial remarks suggesting that Urdu be replaced with Marathi in madrasas and that the Adhaan (call to prayer) be recited in Marathi. Rane’s comments, made while reacting to reports of the Congress launching Marathi schools in Mumbai, have been slammed as inflammatory and Islamophobic, with critics accusing him of attempting to stoke communal tensions ahead of upcoming elections.

“Why should Congress run Marathi schools? The Opposition should ask Muslims to give the Azaan (Adhaan) in Marathi. Teach Marathi in madrasas instead of Urdu—otherwise, all you get from there is a gun,” Rane said, sparking outrage.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), AIMIM, and the Samajwadi Party, condemned his statements, calling them an attack on minority communities.

AIMIM leader Waris Pathan accused Rane and the BJP of fueling hatred for political gains, while AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi pointed to Rane’s past praise of Tablighi Jamaat events to highlight his hypocrisy. NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar alleged that Rane was acting at the behest of the BJP’s top brass and challenged him to initiate formal investigations if he genuinely believed madrasas promote violence.

Idris Naikwadi of the NCP reminded that Urdu remains the mother tongue of many Muslims and said no one has objected to Marathi being taught in madrasas. “Rane is simply vilifying minorities for political mileage,” he added.

Samajwadi Party’s Maharashtra president Abu Azmi called the remarks “disgraceful,” noting that the Quran is already being taught in Marathi in some institutions. “Rane is only worshipping hatred,” he said. NCP MLA Shashikant Shinde advised Rane to raise such matters in the state cabinet instead of making provocative public comments.

Nitesh Rane has a history of making divisive statements. Over the past two years, he has faced multiple FIRs for incendiary speeches, including calls to ban burqas and labelling Kerala as a “mini-Pakistan.” With agency inputs