'Never Seen Him Question Bakr-Eid Rituals ..,' Nitesh Rane Slams Raj Thackeray Over Ganga River Cleanliness, Says 'Raj Sahib Has Incomplete Info ..'

The debate over the cleanliness of rivers in India has taken centre stage in Maharashtra’s political landscape. Recently, MNS chief Raj Thackeray revealed that he refused to drink Ganga river water brought from Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. He claimed that not a single river in India is clean, questioning the effectiveness of various cleanliness drives. His remarks have triggered sharp reactions, particularly from Maharashtra Minister and BJP MLA Nitesh Rane, who accused Thackeray of having incomplete information on the matter.

Nitesh Rane Counters Raj Thackeray’s Remarks on State of Rivers

Reacting to Raj Thackeray’s comments on the state of rivers, including the Ganga, Maharashtra Minister and BJP MLA Nitesh Rane accused the MNS chief of having incomplete information. Rane highlighted the efforts taken under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Namo Gange’ project for the cleanliness of the sacred river.

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#WATCH | Mumbai | On the statement of MNS chief Raj Thackeray about the state of rivers in India, Maharashtra Minister & BJP MLA Nitesh Rane says, "Raj Sahib has incomplete information about the cleanliness drive- Namo Gange under PM Modi's leadership. No one has the right to… pic.twitter.com/FPm0sIj3oU

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2025

A statement recorded by ANI and posted on X (formerly Twitter) quoted Nitesh Rane saying, "Raj Sahib has incomplete information about the cleanliness drive ‘Namo Gange’ under PM Modi's leadership. No one has the right to insult the Hindu religion. I have never seen him question the sacrifice of goats during Bakr-Eid…"

Raj Thackeray’s Remarks on the State of Rivers in India

Raj Thackeray’s remarks came in the backdrop of his observations on the Ganga river’s cleanliness during the Maha Kumbh. He stated that many people who returned from Prayagraj had complained of health issues.

Addressing a party meeting on MNS’s foundation day, Thackeray remarked, “Not a single river in the country is clean. The country has just come out of the Corona disease. People walked around wearing masks for two years, yet they gathered in large numbers for a holy bath at the Kumbh Mela. No one is seriously looking into this issue. Understand the difference between faith and superstition. Come out of superstition a little, shake your head.”

During his speech, Raj Thackeray shared an anecdote about receiving Ganga water from a party leader returning from the Maha Kumbh. He revealed why he refused to drink it.

“Even our Bala Nandgaonkar had gone to the Kumbh. On his way back, he brought some Ganga water for me in a small kamandalu. When he gave it to me, I said, I will not drink this water,” he stated.

Criticism Over Pollution: ‘No River in India is Clean’

Highlighting his concerns about the state of rivers in India, Raj Thackeray recalled how pollution continues to plague the Ganga despite several promises over the years.

“It was okay in the past. But now, I see on social media that people who have been there, many were rubbing their armpits with that water. Does faith have any meaning or not? Not a single river is clean in this country. We call the river Mother. When we go abroad, we see clean rivers. Here, our rivers are full of pollution. I have been hearing since Rajiv Gandhi's time that the Ganga will be cleaned. Raj Kapoor had also made a film on it. People believed the Ganga was clean. They thought if the river was truly clean, they would also be ready to bathe in it. But the Ganga is still not clean,” Thackeray said.