At a press conference, BJP MLA and Maharashtra Minister for Fisheries Nitesh Rane referred to Muslims as “gandagi”, told them to “go to Pakistan”, and said that only those who say “I love Mahadev” belong in India, adding that anyone who disagrees should leave for Pakistan. He claimed that previous governments had settled Rohingya and Bangladeshi “infiltrators” in Maharashtra, challenged the Thackeray family to visit Muslim-majority areas and madrasas and force people there to speak Marathi, vowed to make Maharashtra “jihad-free”, alleged that Muslims have encroached on forts to carry out “jihad”, and repeatedly demonised Muslims.