Archive · 7 Nov 2025
Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane: No Non-Hindu Shops at Nashik Kumbh Mela
A government minister in India named Nitesh Rane said that only Hindu people should be allowed to open shops during a big Hindu festival called the Kumbh Mela in a city called Nashik.
He believes the festival is about faith, and people who don't share that faith shouldn't make money from it.
He also said that during other religious festivals, people from his community don't get to open shops, so it should be the same for this Hindu festival.
This has caused some people to get upset, as they think the minister is being unfair and divisive.
The minister has made controversial comments before about other religious groups.
Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane demanded that non-Hindus be prohibited from setting up shops at the upcoming Nashik Kumbh Mela.
Rane stated that the Kumbh Mela is a festival of faith and only those with Hindu beliefs should benefit from it.
He drew parallels to other religious festivals, suggesting Hindus are not allowed to benefit during those times.
Rane's demand is based on sentiments of the Hindu community and his claims of unfairness in other festivals.
This statement has drawn criticism, with opponents accusing Rane of making divisive remarks and targeting minority communities, referencing his past controversial statements.
- Who
- Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane and opposition leaders/Maharashtra Minority Commission
- What
- Demand that non-Hindus should not be allowed to set up shops at the Nashik Kumbh Mela, citing religious sentiments and past comparisons with other festivals; also drawing criticism for past controversial statements.
- When
- Thursday (November 6, 2025 - implied by ANI's post date context)
- Where
- Nashik, Maharashtra
- Why
- Rane stated the Kumbh Mela is a festival of faith and non-Hindus should not benefit from it. Criticisms point to Rane's history of divisive remarks and targeting minority communities.
Nitesh Rane's Stance
Criticism/Counterarguments
Rationale for Exclusion
Nitesh Rane's Stance
The Kumbh Mela is a festival of faith, and only those who believe in Hindu traditions should benefit from it. Non-Hindus should not be allowed to set up shops to prevent them from profiting from the religious event.
Criticism/Counterarguments
Previous statements by Rane have been criticized as inflammatory and divisive, targeting Muslims and other minority groups. The Maharashtra Minority Commission chairperson has accused Rane of sowing divisions and targeting Indian Muslims.
Comparison to Other Festivals
Nitesh Rane's Stance
Rane argued that during Eid and other Muslim festivals, Hindus are not patronized, implying a similar exclusion should apply to non-Hindus at the Kumbh Mela.
Criticism/Counterarguments
Rane has previously claimed that environmental and animal activists selectively target Hindu festivals like Holi and Diwali, implying bias. He questioned why they did not appeal for 'virtual' celebrations of Bakri Eid, which involves livestock slaughter.
Previous Controversial Statements
Nitesh Rane's Stance
Rane has a history of making contentious remarks, including suggesting Muslims should recite the azaan in Marathi instead of Urdu, and implying that madrasas only produce negative outcomes.
Criticism/Counterarguments
Maharashtra Minority Commission chairperson Pyare Khan stated that Rane was misusing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's name and accused him of sowing divisions and targeting Indian Muslims in the name of Pakistan.
- Event
- Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela
- Frequency
- Once every 12 years
- Next Occurrence
- October 2026
- Location
- Nashik district, Maharashtra, India
- Key Figure
- Nitesh Rane (Maharashtra State Fisheries Minister, BJP leader)
- Proposal
- Non-Hindus should not be permitted to set up shops at the Mela