Mumbai: Amid saffron fury and street protests over his claim that Lord Ram was a non-vegetarian, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awadh has cited a research paper on Valmiki Ramayana by IIT Kanpur to defend his remarks. demanded. However, he also apologized to people and said that he was sorry if his comments had hurt anyone’s sentiments. Awhad, a key aide of NCP veteran and party patriarch Sharad Pawar, insisted that he had not given his own interpretation on the matter but based his opinion on the ‘authentic’ version of Valmiki Ramayana.
Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Awhad pointed to the extensive research done by IIT Kanpur on this version of the Ramayana. The NCP leader strongly defended his position, saying, “Look, I am telling you that I did not bring any of my own interpretation or views into this. I did not include any of my own opinions. I based my opinion on whatever is written in Valmiki Ramayana.” Facing the fire of opposition from BJP and the saint community of the country. However, saying he was sorry if his comments had hurt public sentiments, the NCP leader said, “I regret if my words have hurt anyone’s sentiments.
I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s sentiments.” Emphasizing that he did not make any changes or misinterpret the Valmiki Ramayana written ages ago, Avahad outlined six sections (chapters) of the ancient text – Balakand, Ayodhyakand, Aranyakand, Kishkindhakand, Sunderkand. And war. The NCP leader said, “Valmiki Ramayana has six sections. What does the 120th verse of Ayodhya Khand say? My comments were based on verses from Valmiki Ramayana. Please read Valmiki Ramayana and you will know yourself.” “I have an authentic version of the Ramayana, written eighteen hundred years ago. This book was published in Kolkata in 1891.
IIT Kanpur has also published a research paper on this. And what I said is already in the public domain.” The NCP leader said. He emphasized that his words were a reflection of the ideas and principles he holds dear, however, he reiterated that he did not intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments. On the complaint registered against him in Maharashtra, Awhad said, “Should a case be registered against me here, in America or anywhere else. I am not afraid of affairs. I stand by my words and practice what I preach. I’m not into.” The habit of saying things I don’t mean.” Earlier, on Wednesday, Awhad had angered many fathers by claiming, contrary to popular belief, that Lord Ram belonged to the ‘Bahujan’ (majority of people) and was a non-vegetarian. “Lord Ram is ours. He belongs to Bahujans. Lord Ram, who hunts and eats (meat), he is ours, we are the Bahujans. Some people call us vegetarian. But we follow the ideals of Lord Ram and even today we eat mutton. This is in line with the ideals of Lord Ram,” Awhad said while addressing an event in Shirdi on Wednesday.
He said, “Ram was not a vegetarian, he was a non-vegetarian.” Angered by Awhad’s controversial statement, BJP MLA Ram Kadam has filed a complaint against the NCP leader in Mumbai. “It is their mentality to hurt the sentiments of Ram devotees. However, we will not tolerate it if they make fun of our Sanatan Dharma for votes. The dream of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya does not seem to be coming true.” The ghamadiya (arrogant) alliance is fine,” Kadam said.
