Thiruvananthapuram/IBNS: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called Maharashtra minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nitesh Rane's remark labelling Kerala as "mini Pakistan" "deeply malicious" and "utterly condemnable".

In an X post, Vijayan wrote, "The derogatory remark by Maharashtra Fisheries and Ports Minister @NiteshNRane, labelling Kerala as ‘mini-Pakistan’, is deeply malicious & utterly condemnable. Such rhetoric reflects the hate campaigns orchestrated by the Sangh Parivar against Kerala, a bastion of secularism & communal harmony.

"We strongly denounce this vile attack on Kerala, & call upon all democratic & secular forces to unite against Sangh Parivar’s hateful propaganda."

Nitesh Rane, the son of former Maharashtra CM and BJP leader Narayan Rane, labelled Kerala as 'mini Pakistan' while attacking Congress leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

"Kerala is mini Pakistan that is why Rahul Gandhi and his sister are elected from there. All terrorists vote for them. This is the truth, you can ask. They have become MPs after taking terrorists with them," Rane said as quoted by NDTV.

Rane, who heads the fisheries and ports development ministry in the Mahayuti government, has been slammed by opposition parties of Maharashtra.

Congress leader Bhai Jagtap told PTI, "I feel really pity on this person, he is a cabinet minister, is this the statement of the government? That's my first question. I strongly condemn this...

"You have a government at the Centre for 12 years, a government in Maharashtra, who is stopping you from investigating and finding facts, rather than making such crap statement. I would like to know from the central, state governments whether they support this statement? I strongly demand his resignation."

In face of the criticism, Rane clarified his statement and said the southern state is very much a part of India.

He told ANI, "Kerala is very much a part of our country. The decreasing population of Hindus is something that everyone should worry about. Religious conversion of Hindus into Christians and Muslims is becoming an everyday thing there. Love Jihad cases are also increasing there. I was comparing the situation with the way Hindus are treated in Pakistan.

"If a similar situation arises in Kerala, then we have to think about it. We want our Hindu Rashtra to remain a Hindu Rashtra, and Hindus should be protected in every way... I was just stating the facts so that everyone knows what the situation is. Whatever I said is based on facts...Let the Opposition, Congress prove me wrong."