Nagpur: Maharashtra minority commission chairman Pyare Khan on Friday dashed off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding action against former Amravati MP Navneet Rana, accusing her of pushing a communal agenda in the sensational Amravati district sex scandal. Rana, meanwhile, shot back saying she will “stand for Hindus” and in turn demanded Khan’s resignation for not speaking up in the TCS, Nashik case, where the majority community was allegedly targeted.Rana and BJP MP Anil Bonde had alleged that almost 200 Hindu girls were sexually exploited by key accused Ayaan Ahmed, 19, who is in custody along with seven others. While Ayaan recorded videos of sexual acts, the co-accused shared it online.In his letter to PM Modi, Khan wrote “These claims were made without police verification and were widely circulated on social media and other platforms. Later, police clarified the facts and stated such claims were not based on evidence.” As of now, all eight survivors identified by police are Muslims.Khan’s letter accused Rana of inciting communal passions. “In some of her public speeches, remarks were made targeting Muslims. These statements included provocative and insensitive comments such as asking them to go to Pakistan. Such remarks affect social harmony and are contrary to constitutional values of equality and fraternity,” he wrote, urging the PM to act against Rana for tarnishing the ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ campaign.Rana, meanwhile, questioned Khan’s silence on the 2022 lynching of Amravati pharmacist, Umesh Kohle, who supported a statement of a BJP spokesperson. Rana said, “Why has Khan not spoken about the TCS case, where Hindu girls were being targeted? Remember, I will always stand up for Hindus, no matter what.”Speaking to TOI, Khan said “Her statements could have triggered a riot. Does she not understand the gravity of the situation? She peddled lies putting the entire city at risk. She is a former MP, and she should act responsibly.”Rana on the other hand said Khan’s selective outrage is unwelcome. “He should apologise on behalf of his community for what happened in Amravati’s Paratwada. Wait till data from accused’s laptop emerges and I will speak in detail after that. Also, where does Khan go when cases of love jihad surface in Maharashtra? In fact, he is the one who must quit,” said Rana.This is not the first time that Khan and Rana have crossed swords, with the last such ‘encounter’ happening earlier this year. Then, Khan had taken a swipe at Rana’s political precedents, who joined BJP in 2024. Khan had said “I am original BJP, I was born in this party. I did not come from some other place.”While the two BJP leaders traded barbs again, guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule is scheduled to hold a review meeting over the case on Saturday at 12.30pm.
