Navneet Rana, a BJP leader and former Member of Parliament, has weighed in on a string of hot-button issues, ranging from Gen Z's loyalty to the BJP and the Dahi Handi festivities to the ongoing loudspeaker and DJ dispute, a swipe at Waris Pathan, and a sharp response to Asaduddin Owaisi. Along the way, she praised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for several recent decisions while taking a dig at Uddhav Thackeray over an older Hanuman Chalisa controversy.
Gen Z stands with the BJP, says Rana, hailing Dahi Handi moves
Rana argued that today's younger generation, Gen Z, is firmly behind the BJP and will remain so going forward. Referring to the Dahi Handi event held in Sion, she said the celebration is tied to the long-running Janmashtami tradition, and the heavy participation of young people shows that the new generation hasn't drifted from its cultural roots. According to her, festivals and traditions in Maharashtra have been carried forward across generations. She commended Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his initiative to offer government jobs and reservation to youths associated with Govinda pathaks and Govinda mandals, and called the decision to grant Dahi Handi the status of a sport a significant and welcome step by the state government, one that could open the door to official recognition and benefits for participants going forward.
A dig at Uddhav Thackeray over Hanuman Chalisa, near his own residence
As Rana arrived at the event venue, the Hanuman Chalisa was played, prompting her to take aim at Uddhav Thackeray. She pointed out that she was standing in Sion, not far from Matoshree, Thackeray's residence, and that nobody now has to fear playing the Hanuman Chalisa. The remark referenced an earlier episode in which someone was jailed for 14 days over playing the hymn. Rana said the situation has since changed entirely, and that the sound of the Hanuman Chalisa should now reach every lane and every home.
Shut down mosque loudspeakers before talking about DJs, she says
On the row over DJ music, Rana backed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's stance, arguing that if DJs are to be restricted, the same rule should apply equally to loudspeakers at all places of worship, and that no single community should be singled out for strict enforcement. She specifically objected to loudspeakers used for the five daily azaans at mosques, saying those should be switched off first before any conversation about banning DJs takes place. Her broader point was that any new rule on noise should apply uniformly across the board.
Tells Waris Pathan to leave for Pakistan
The sharpest exchange came over Waris Pathan's objection to extending the permitted loudspeaker hours during the Ganpati festival. Rana responded bluntly, telling Pathan that if he has a problem with Hindu festivals and their sound, he should move to Pakistan. She added that in India, things will run according to the country's own culture, festivals and rules, not according to anyone else's preference.
Sharp reply to Owaisi over the Saharanpur mosque demolition
Asked about Asaduddin Owaisi's comments on the demolition of an illegal mosque in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Rana said the BJP does not demolish mosques out of personal vendetta. She said that if someone else initiated the action, party workers will not back down. She also invoked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath by name, expressing confidence that he would deliver justice to every side and set things right.
Calls Owaisi and Revanth Reddy partners in crime, recalls an old warning
Rana accused the Congress party and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of colluding with Owaisi, saying the two leaders keep praising each other and are effectively partners in crime, using the Hindi phrase 'chor-chor mausere bhai'. This isn't the first time she has made such a sharp comment. Rana had earlier warned Humayun Kabir, who was building what he claimed was a Babri Masjid in West Bengal, that he wouldn't even find space for a grave in India.
