GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 4th Jan. A few days ahead of the grand consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, which will be attended by prominent leaders, Jitendra Awhad, a leader from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has stirred up a controversy by stating that Lord Ram was a non-vegetarian.
Awhad, who is aligned with Sharad Pawar’s faction within the NCP, made this statement during an event in Shirdi, Maharashtra, on Wednesday.
“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. But 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?” Awhad said, referring to the years Lord Ram spent in the forests in the Hindu epic Ramayana.
This remark has caused a massive controversy, with some demanding action against Awhad for hurting religious sentiments.
As a precautionary measure, the police have increased security outside Awhad’s house.
Led by BJP MLA Ram Kadam, the protesters have announced their intention to march to the nearest police station and file a case against the NCP MLA for his offensive comments towards Hindus. Kadam stated that all devotees of Lord Ram will file a police case against Awhad.
Awhad did not stop at Lord Ram but further ignited controversy by claiming that India gained independence solely because of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
“No matter what someone says, the truth is that we got independence only because of Gandhi and Nehru. Gandhi ji was not assassinated in 1947, but the first attack on him took place in 1935, the second in 1938, and the third in 1942,” Awhad said.
“After all, why did they attack him so many times… because Gandhi ji was a tradesman and an OBC (Other Backward Classes). The fact that the leader of such a big independence movement was an OBC was not acceptable to them (RSS),” Awhad said referring to the BJP’s ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
In Ayodhya, the local authorities and police are making preparations for the expected increase in visitors during the temple consecration ceremony. Security measures have been heightened to ensure a smooth event.
