‘Try eating paper instead of mutton’: BJP leader Haji Arafat Shaikh’s advice to Nitesh Rane over ‘virtual Bakrid’ remark

Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane has sparked a major political controversy with his remarks on Eid al-Adha 2026, cow smuggling and madrasas to defend the Devendra Fadnavis-led government’s recent move to invoke stringent legal provisions over illegal cattle trade. The BJP leader and son of former Union Minister Narayan Rane has been advised by party colleague Haji Arafat Shaikh to try “eating paper instead of mutton” to understand its taste.

“Nitish Rane needs to understand a little. It’s the festival of Eid, and most importantly, he also has his own meat shop,” Shaikh told ANI.

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The BJP leader reminded Nitesh Rane that his father “rose from a meat shop to become a minister and a high-ranking figure in the central government.”

“He has his own hotel in Chembur, named after his mother. They sell excellent crab, excellent fish, and excellent mutton masala. So, Nitish Rane, you need to understand. Look at your mutton shop and your hotel. And if you eat mutton on Sundays, you should definitely try eating paper instead of mutton. You’ll understand how it tastes,” he added.

Shaikh further asked the state minister to understand the situation of butchers across the state, ahead of Bakrid 2026 celebrations.

“I would tell Nitish Rane that vehicles carrying goats are being stopped, and it is very distressing to Hindu butchers. The Dhangar community is also very distressed, and the Muslim community is also very distressed. The butcher community gets a chance to earn once a year. You do a good business at your shop in Chembur, so consider our business too,” he said.

Moreover, Shaikh told Nitesh Rane to “go and seek some advice from his father, Narayan Rane.”

“I extend Eid greetings to him in advance. I invite him to come to my house for Eid and eat the mutton,” he added.

#WATCH | Mumbai: BJP leader Haji Arafat Shaikh says, “Nitish Rane needs to understand a little. It’s the festival of Eid, and most importantly, he also has his own meat shop. His father rose from a meat shop to become a minister and a high-ranking figure in the central… pic.twitter.com/HT8UobcCDT

— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2026

Nitesh Rane stirs row over Eid al-Adha 2026

While speaking to mediapersons in Mumbai, Rane recently suggested that festivals across all communities should be discussed through the lens of environmental responsibility.

Talking about the appeals often made during Hindu festivals, Rane said the Hindu society was regularly asked to celebrate dry Holi and avoid firecrackers during Diwali. He then questioned why similar suggestions are not made for Eid al-Adha.

“People who are environmentalists, and organisations like PETA, always tell people to celebrate environmentally friendly festivals, celebrate a dry Holi and do not burst crackers during Diwali. But playing with colours during Holi and bursting crackers during Diwali has its own special significance in our Hindu religion, IANS quoted Rane as saying.

“So, if such rules and suggestions are made for Hindu society, then what is wrong in saying that the upcoming Eid al-Adha should also be celebrated in an environmentally friendly way, or even as a virtual Bakra Eid?” he asked.

The Maharashtra minister went on to claim that post Bakrid celebrations, people get to se blood flowing through drains and sewers, while all the animal rights organisations remain silent.

On the state government’s decision to invoke the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in cases linked to cow smuggling and illegal cattle trade, Rane said, “A few days ago, our government issued a GR. If anyone is involved in sacrifice-related violations or cow meat-related illegal activity, there is now a provision to directly apply MCOCA”.