BJP minister demands Hindu-only vendors at Nashik Kumbh. Nitesh Rane stirs controversy ahead of 2026 congregation.
Maharashtra Fisheries Minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane demanded Thursday that only Hindu vendors be permitted to set up shops at the Nashik Kumbh Mela scheduled for October 2026. Speaking to reporters in Nashik, Rane stated that Kumbh Mela is a festival of faith and those without belief in Hindu traditions should not profit from the congregation. He urged Hindu devotees to remain vigilant and prevent non-Hindus from establishing businesses using Hindu-sounding names during the pilgrimage.
Rane justified his demand by claiming that Muslims exclude Hindus from Eid festivals, considering them unbelievers. He asked why Muslims needed to set up shops near sacred Hindu sites, comparing it to Hindus not operating businesses near mosques. The statement sparked immediate controversy with critics accusing Rane of sowing communal divisions. Maharashtra Minority Commission chairperson Pyare Khan has previously accused Rane of repeatedly engaging in hate speech and targeting Indian Muslims.
This is not Rane’s first inflammatory statement. In July, he controversially claimed madrasas produce militants rather than scholars. In April, he urged Hindus to inquire about shopkeepers’ religion before making purchases. The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha, one of four Kumbh Melas celebrated across India every 12 years, attracts millions of pilgrims and generates significant economic activity for local communities regardless of vendor faith.
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