Jitendra Awhad Apologises For 'Non-Vegetarian' Remark On Lord Ram Amidst Backlash

An apology was offered by Jitendra Awhad, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, on Thursday January 4, reported ANI. He was embroiled in controversy over his remarks calling Lord Ram 'non-vegetarian'. Expressing his intention to avoid escalating the issue, Awhad asserted that he "does not speak without research."

NCP-Sharad Pawar faction leader Jitendra Awhad said, "I express regret. I did not want to hurt anyone's sentiments."

Ram Temple chief priest criticise NCP Leader's Comment

Awhad's comment has been highly criticised Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra chief priest, Acharya Satyendra Das, strongly refuted the claims, calling them "completely false." In opposition to these statements, Chief Priest Acharya Satyendra Das stressed that "What NCP leader Jitendra Awhad is speaking is completely false. It isn't written anywhere in our scriptures that Lord Ram had non-vegetarian food during his exile. It's written that he used to have fruits." Expressing disapproval, Acharya Satyendra Das stated, "Such a liar has no right to insult our Lord Ram. Our God was always vegetarian. He is speaking demeaning words to insult our Lord Ram."

BJP's MLA file a complaint

Following Awhad's controversial statement, a complaint against the NCP leader was filed by BJP MLA Ram Kadam in Mumbai.

"Their mindset is to hurt the sentiments of the Ram bhakts. They can't make fun of the Hindu religion to gather votes. The fact that Ram mandir has been built has not gone down well with the 'ghamandi' alliance," Ram Kadam said.

The statement by the NCP leader also drew criticism from Hindu seers.

Ayodhya Seer Paramhans Acharya urged the Centre and the Maharashtra government to take strict action against those who speak "foul" of Lord Ram and said Awhad's statements hurt the sentiment of Lord Ram's devotees. "The statement given by Jitendra Awhad is contemptuous and hurts the sentiment of Lord Ram devotees. I would urge Maharashtra and the central government to take strict action against people who speak foul of Lord Ram," he said. "If strict actions are not taken against him, then I will kill Jitendra Awhad. I'm giving a warning," he added.

What did Jitendra Ahwad comment was?

On Wednesday, it was claimed by Jitendra Awhad that Lord Ram belonged to the 'Bahujans' (people in majority) and was a non-vegetarian, contrary to common belief. "It is asserted that Ram is ours. Ram belongs to the Bahujans. Ram who hunts and eats is ours, we belong to the Bahujans. When efforts are made to make us all vegetarian, we follow the ideals of Ram and today we eat mutton. This is the ideal of Ram," he said while addressing an event in Maharashtra's Shirdi on Wednesday. Furthermore, he added, "It is asserted that Ram was not a vegetarian, he was a non-vegetarian."