NCP-Sharad Pawar faction leader Dr. Jitendra Awhad has sparked controversy with his recent statement claiming that Lord Ram was a non-vegetarian due to the unavailability of vegetarian food during his exile in the forest.
During an event in Shirdi, Maharashtra, Awhad stated, “Lord Ram was not a vegetarian; he was a non-vegetarian. Where would a person living in the forest for 14 years go to find vegetarian food?”
He continued by saying, “We don’t read history and forget everything in politics. Ram is ours. Of us Bahujans. Who used to hunt to eat… Ram was never a vegetarian. How can a man who lived in the jungle for 14 years remain a vegetarian?”
Following Awhad’s statement, BJP leaders reacted strongly and demanded action against him. Arun Yadav, BJP Haryana State Head Social Media, shared the video of Awhad’s remarks and urged the Maharashtra government to arrest him.
Another BJP leader, Ram Kadam, criticized the Udhav Thackeray faction and mentioned that if Balasaheb Thackeray were alive today, he would have strongly criticized Awhad’s remarks in the editorial Saamna, the mouthpiece of UBT Sena.
Kadam filed a complaint to register an FIR against NCP-Sharad Pawar faction leader Jitendra Awhad for his statement about Lord Ram being a “non-vegetarian.” He accused them of intending to hurt the sentiments of Ram devotees and exploiting Hindu sentiments for political gain.
Responding to Awhad’s claim, Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das called Awhad’s statement false. He emphasized that scriptures don’t mention Lord Ram consuming non-vegetarian food during his exile, stating that it’s written that Lord Ram used to have fruits.
Das condemned Awhad’s remarks, asserting that it was disrespectful and insulting to Lord Ram, who was always considered vegetarian.
