Nitesh Rane, BJP MLA and Maharashtra Cabinet Minister, speaking at the Ram Mandir Consecration event organized by the Prabhu Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust, made communal statements referring to Muslims as “jihadis” and “green snakes,” accusing them of opposing chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in what he called a Hindu Rashtra. He demonized Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, alleging they settled in areas like Pimpri Chinchwad to encroach on land and establish mosques. Rane also propagated the conspiracy of ‘love jihad,’ claimed Muslims aim to create a Muslim Rashtra in India, and falsely alleged that Hindus are being attacked or killed for chanting or sharing ‘Jai Shri Ram.’