NCP leader Jitendra Awhad kicked up a controversy with his comments that Lord Ram was never a vegetarian. The Maharashtra leader even supported his statement saying that Lord Ram couldn't live in the jungle for 14 years by just being a vegetarian.
These comments come at a critical time, ahead of the consecration of Lord Ram idol at Ayodhya temple on January 22.
The BJP demanded that January 22 should be declared a dry day and also that all non-vegetarian food should be banned on that day.
The NCP leader of Sharad Pawar faction also said that Lord Rama was a Bahujan, a non-vegetarian and a hunter.
"We forget everything in politics. Ram is ours. Of Bahujans. Who used to hunt to eat... Ram was never a vegetarian. He was a non-vegetarian. How can a man who lived in jungle for 14 years remain a vegetarian," Awhad said.
Awhad's statements sparked controversy and Ram Bhakts demanded his immediate arrest.
Responding to this, BJP MLA Ram Kadam said if Balasaheb Thackeray would have been alive, Shiv Sena's Saamana newspaper would have criticised Awhad's Ram non-vegetarian comment.
"But today's relaity is they (Uddhav Sena) does not care if somebody makes fun of the Hindus. They are indifferent, as cold as ice. But when election comes, they will talk about Hindutva.." Ram Kadam tweeted on Thursday.
Wondering why should there be a controversy on his remarks, Awhad even said that Ram was a Kshatriya and they can eat non-vegetarian food. He said he was committed to his remarks. More than 80% of citizens in India are non-vegetarians and all of them are Ram Bhakts, he said.
Meanwhile, several Ram devotees said that Awhad's statements were hurting their feelings and wanted him to withdraw his remarks.
