Societal factors made bin Laden a terrorist: NCP leader’s wife stirs controversy

Ruta Awhad, wife of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sharad Pawar faction leader Jitendra Awhad, has sparked a political controversy by comparing former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam to Osama bin Laden, suggesting that societal factors contributed to bin Laden's path to terrorism.

The comments, made during a speech on the importance of education, have since gone viral after a video of her remarks was widely circulated. Awhad urged students to read Osama bin Laden's biography, arguing that understanding his transformation into a terrorist could provide insights into the role of society in shaping such figures. She suggested that just as societal factors made APJ Abdul Kalam a President, similar conditions made Osama bin Laden a terrorist.

Her remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused her of defending and glorifying bin Laden. BJP leaders condemned the comments, alleging that they were part of a broader trend by opposition leaders to sympathise with terrorists. They pointed to previous incidents involving NCP leaders defending individuals accused of terrorism, portraying Awhad's comments as part of a continuing pattern of appeasement politics.

The controversy has intensified the political tussle between Maharashtra's ruling Eknath Shinde-led coalition and the opposition bloc ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections. BJP members have accused the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) and the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), to which NCP-SP belongs, of using such statements to pander to their vote bank.

As the controversy unfolds, both Jitendra Awhad and the NCP leadership have remained silent, choosing not to respond to the backlash. The incident has added fuel to the ongoing political tensions in the state, with the BJP seizing the opportunity to attack the opposition’s stance on issues of terrorism and national security.