Congress MP Shashi Tharoor condemned Maharashtra Minister Nitish Rane’s recent comments regarding electronic voting machines (EVMs), calling them “shocking” and contrary to the inclusive values adopted during India’s freedom struggle. “I must say that those who are targeting any one community, be it against Muslims, Hindus, Christians or any caste, it is all wrong.” Shashi Tharoor told news agency ANI.
Maharashtra Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitish Rane, while addressing a Hindu gathering in Sangli on Friday, had reportedly made the derogatory remark, saying, “EVM means every vote against Mullah.”
Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor stressed that targeting a particular community is fundamentally wrong, saying all citizens are equal and this equality is essential for the progress of the country.
Speaking to ANI, Shashi Tharoor said, “This kind of thing is quite shocking.” In our country, we really have to understand the basic text of the freedom struggle, which is when a group of people said that religion is the basis of their nationality. They went away and created Pakistan. After Mahatma Gandhi, our leader said that we have fought for everyone’s freedom. We will create a country for all, we will write a constitution for all, and everyone will live here with equal rights.”
He said, “We are all equal citizens of India and this is the only basis on which our country can progress.”
Nitesh Rane called Kerala ‘mini Pakistan’
It is noteworthy that in December last year, Nitish Rane had created a controversy by calling Kerala “mini-Pakistan” during a rally in Pune.
During a speech in memory of Shiv Pratap Deen, Maharashtra minister Nitish Rane claimed that the electoral success of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Kerala was due to their support to “terrorists”.
Brinda Karat demands arrest of Nitesh Rane
The controversial comments of BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Nitish Rane have been widely criticized not only by Tharoor but by leaders of all political parties. Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat also condemned Nitish Rane’s remarks and demanded his arrest.
“This is hate speech and this man should be arrested. This man is a threat to India because this is not the first time that he has made such derogatory communal statement… The fact is that he is serving as a minister. It is a reflection of the hypocrisy of the BJP and the RSS,” Brinda Karat said.
