‘Lord Ram was non-Vegetarian’: NCP leader sparks row, protests
text_fields
New Delhi: A group turned up outside the house of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awhad on Wednesday night in Mumbai protesting against his remarks in the day that ‘Lord Ram was a non-vegetarian’.
Jitendra Awhad, who belongs to the Sharad Pawar camp of the NCP, made the remarks at an event in Maharashtra's Shridi, sparking the row, according to NDTV.
Subsequently, the supporters of the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP shouted slogans against him outside his Mumbai home.
Jitendra Awhad’s comes days ahead of the mega Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya which it is touted to become a major event as Lok Sabha polls are months away.
Referring to Lord Ram’s stint in forest as was portrayed in Hindu epic Ramayana, Awhad reportedly said ‘Lord Ram was not a vegetarian, he was a non-vegetarian. A person who has stayed in the forest for 14 years - where will he go to find vegetarian food?’
He also that ‘Lord Ram belongs to us, Bahujans. He used to hunt and eat animals. He is a Bahujan. They are trying to make everyone a vegetarian by giving Lord Ram's example’.
There have been calls to take action against Jitendra Awhad for hurting religious sentiments.
The police have deployed extra personnel in front of Awhad's house after a large group turned up there last night.
BJP MLA Ram Kadam in a post on X, referring Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said that ‘If Balasaheb were alive, today's Saamana newspaper would have spoken harshly to those who called Lord Ram a non-vegetarian.’
The BJP MLA further said that the reality today is anyone can say anything about Lord Ram, adding ‘anyone can make fun of Hindus. They don't care. They are as cold as ice. But come elections, they will talk about Hindutva.’
