Minister Nitesh Rane flags ‘corporate jihad’ in Maharashtra, backs hiring preference for Hindus

MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane on Thursday said that “corporate jihad” is growing in Maharashtra, and that prioritizing Hindus in hiring was the “need of the hour” to thwart any “jihadist activities,” according to news agency PTIHis remarks came in reference to the claims of religious conversion and sexual harassment at a BPO unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Nashik. Police have arrested eight employees of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), including seven men and one female operations manager, in connection with the case. Another female employee is absconding. The National Commission for Women on Wednesday said it has constituted a fact-finding committee to probe the alleged incidents of sexual harassment. Referring to the Nashik case, Rane alleged that jobs were being misused as a tool for religious conversion."If every platform, from trade to corporate offices, is used to target Hindus through various forms of jihad, it is time for a firm response," he told reporters. He further claimed that such incidents have led to a growing sentiment within the Hindu community to engage in economic transactions and employment only with fellow Hindus in order to safeguard their interests. The minister warned that companies might soon adopt a policy of hiring only Hindus to prevent such “jihadist activities.”"We are not seeking to divide society, but reacting to the experiences on the ground. If employment provided for livelihood is diverted towards religious conversion, then prioritising Hindu candidates is the need of the hour to strengthen the 'Hindu rashtra'," Rane added."It is time to take a stand if employment is misused for stoking jihad, instead of seeing it as a means of livelihood," Rane said.