Mumbai: Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane has sparked a fresh political row with sharp remarks against the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and its president, Asaduddin Owaisi, alleging that the party functions like a “terror organisation” and that there is “no difference” between Owaisi and global terrorist Osama bin Laden.
Rane’s comments came after allegations that AIMIM corporator Mateen Majid Patel had provided shelter to Nida Khan, an accused in the TCS case in Nashik. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Rane said AIMIM was not a political party but a terror outfit, and claimed Owaisi was carrying out through his party the same kind of activities that bin Laden carried out through al-Qaeda.
He alleged that AIMIM leaders do nothing for the people in constituencies where they are elected, and said their only agenda was “jihad”. Rane also demanded that the Centre ban AIMIM in the same way the Popular Front of India (PFI) was banned for anti-national activities.
The controversy was triggered by the Nashik TCS case, in which Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had recently alleged that AIMIM leader Mateen Majid Patel had helped Nida Khan remain in hiding. Fadnavis said an investigation would also examine whether a larger network was involved in the case.
Nida Khan was taken into custody by the Nashik police a day earlier after her anticipatory bail plea was rejected by a court. She was arrested during a joint search operation by Nashik City Police and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Police in the Naregaon area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
With Maharashtra Assembly elections approaching, Rane’s remarks have added to the political heat in the state. While AIMIM has not issued an official response yet, opposition parties have criticised the BJP, accusing it of trying to fuel communal polarisation.