Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil on Saturday said that the government will examine the controversial statement by youth leader Nitesh Rane regarding Gujaratis living in Mumbai,and take action if he was found guilty. Swabhimaan Sanghatana chief Rane,meanwhile,contended on Saturday that his tweet did not target every Gujarati living in Mumbai. Patil,who was here to pay homage to Babasaheb Kedar,a co-operative movement leader who passed away on Friday,said that every citizen of the country had the right to live anywhere in the country,irrespective his origins and language. The state will initiate appropriate action if Nitesh was found guilty,Patil said. Nitesh,son of state Industries Minister and Congress leader Narayan Rane,recently said on Twitter that Mumbai-based Gujaratis who admire the performance of Chief Minister Narendra Modi were free to go back to their native state. On Saturday,he clarified in Mumbai that he did not target every Gujarati. I only said those who feel Narendra Modi is doing a good job can move there (Gujarat), he told reporters. My remarks were not aimed against all Gujaratis but only about those who feel there is more development in Gujarat. I have taken a political stance.I have stated clearly that people living in Mumbai who feel that Gujarat is developing better than us (Maharashtra) or those who feel that Modi is developing Gujarat better than us,why dont they go there, Nitesh said. I didnt say that all Gujaratis are like that. I didnt say we will drive (Gujaratis) out (of Mumbai). Asked if the remarks had been made by him as a Congress leader,Nitesh said,I said this as a son of the soil of Maharashtra. There are a lot of Gujaratis staying here who take pride in Mumbai and Maharashtra, he said.
