India, April 5 -- Fisheries Minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane on Friday announced plans to rename the Muslim-dominated suburb of Mumbra in Thane district as 'Mumbradevi,' invoking the revered Hindu goddess considered the presiding deity of the Mumbra-Thane region and worshipped by local Koli and Agri communities.

Addressing a Sakal Hindu Samaj-organised event marking the death anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Mumbra, Rane said the renaming move would follow earlier changes such as Islampur being renamed Ishwarpur in Sangli district. He also made several inflammatory remarks. "Nobody can stop us from doing it. We will not sit quietly till we hoist the saffron flag on every home in Mumbra," he said.

He also linked the move ...