Mumbai:
He has been unrelenting on Twitter, first making personal attacks on author Shobhaa De and then mocking Gujaratis settled in Mumbai. But Congress leader Nitesh Rane's rant against the community has left the Maharashtra government red-faced, forcing an investigation into the controversial tweets by the 31-year-old.
"We will look into the matter as it is illegal to tweet such comments," Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil said on Saturday.
The reaction has been triggered by Mr Rane's latest tweet asking Gujaratis, who admired Chief Minister
Narendra Modi, to go back to their native state.
"
All Hoo Haa of gujjus on twitter!Itni teekhi laagi Meri baat..chalo Modi ko bulao aur jaga khaali karo humare Marathis ke liye mumbai mein (If my words pinched you so much, then ask Modi to get you out of Mumbai to make way for our Marathi brethren)," the leader had posted on the micro-blogging site.
Mr Rane was referring to his earlier tweet on Gujarati housing societies favouring vegetarian residents that had sparked a major furore.
But the young leader is unfazed, saying his comments were not targeted against all Gujaratis.
"My remarks were not aimed against all Gujaratis but only about those who feel there is more development in Gujarat," Mr Rane said on Saturday.
The Opposition BJP has been quick to seize the opportunity, with the party demanding action against the Congress leader.
That Mr Rane is the son of senior Congress leader and state Industries Minister Narayan Rane has further added to his party's discomfiture.
"In India anyone can live anywhere. No one can support such comments," Manikrao Thakre, Maharashrra Congress chief said. Party leaders have also told NDTV that appropriate steps will be taken if Mr Rane is found guilty.
But Nitesh Rane has refused to apologise. And with the controversy only growing bigger, it's clearly not the last we have heard from him.