A case filed at Nashik against Jitendra Awhad for claiming Shriram to be a non-vegetarian

FIR filed at Ghatkopar

Demonstrations staged at different places across the State

Mumbai – During an event held by the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) at Shirdi, its leader Jitendra Awhad said that Shriram was a non-vegetarian. A case has, therefore, been filed against him by Mahant Shri Sudhirdas Maharaj of the renowned Shri Kalaram temple at Panchvati Police Station. Demonstrations were also staged against Awhad at various places, including Mumbai and Pune. FIR has been lodged at Ghatkopar (Mumbai) against Awhad. BJP too, staged demonstrations against him, raised slogans against him and threw shoes at his pictures, condemning his statement. There was a ‘tirdi (bier) demonstration’ condemning Awhad in Pune.

NCP’s Rohit Pawar disapproves Awhad’s statement

Rohit Pawar from NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) said that nobody should try to involve God and religion in politics since people would give an apt reply to him.

No scripture mentions Shriram as a non-vegetarian – Shri Mahant Sudhirdas Maharaj, Shri Kalaram temple, Nashik

Shri Mahant Sudhirdas Maharaj said, “In none of the 14 Ramayanas, including Valmiki Ramayana, there is a mention of Shriram being a non-vegetarian. Moreover, Shriram had only fruits and tubers and observed celibacy while in exile, as mentioned in ‘Shriram Raksha’. It is, therefore, foolish of Awhad to make such a statement. Today, the atmosphere is completely immersed in devotion to Shriram, and it is troubling Awhad, as the Demons used to be troubled by Shriram’s name. We are going to demand to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pass a law against continuous denigration of Hindu Deities.”

• Secularism doesn’t mean insulting Hindu Dharma ! – MP Anand Paranjape
• Warns to stage a march to the Police Station if Awhad is not arrested within 24 hours !

Thane – Secularism doesn’t mean insulting Hindu Dharma. Secularism means respecting Hindu Dharma like all other religions. Self-proclaimed historian Jitendra Awhad has exhibited his lack of intelligence by claiming that Shriram used to consume meat while in exile. It is Awhad’s culture to say all the inauspicious things and continuously insult Hindu Deities. If a case is not filed against Awhad in the next 24 hours, we will conduct a march to the Vartak Nagar Police Station and perform the ‘Maha-Aarti’ in front of the Police Station, warned NCP MP Anand Paranjape.

MP Paranjape further said that Jitendra Awhad insulted Shriram at an NCP event at Shirdi by making a very callous statement about Shriram. An NCP worker named Viru Waghmare went to Awhad’s house to recite ‘Aarti’ in front of his house, but the Police arrested him.

Insulting statements by Jitendra Awhad about Shriram

Shriram, who used to hunt and consume meat, belongs to the ‘Bahujans’. People are misled to impose vegetarianism on them by showing Shriram’s example. Shriram used to go hunting when he lived in the forest for 14 years. He was in exile for 14 years, then, how can he be a vegetarian ? Can anyone prove that Shriram used to eat vegetables like fenugreek in the forest ?

Awhad believes in hurting the sentiments of Shriram devotees ! – MLA Ram Kadam, BJP

“Jitendra Awhad has the mentality of hurting the sentiments of Shriram-devotees, but he cannot make a mockery of Hindu Dharma to get votes. The opposition under the ‘I.N.D.I.’ alliance has not accepted the fact that Shriram temple has been constructed”, criticised BJP MLA Ram Kadam.

MLA Kadam further said that meat is not offered to the Deities. We don’t see meat being offered to the Deities. Non-vegetarians also eat vegetarian food on the day of a ‘puja’ performed at their houses. If 4 friends are visiting a temple and one of them has consumed non-vegetarian food, he does not enter the temple. Jitendra Awhad knows this; still, he is hurting Hindu sentiments for appeasement politics.

Regret hurting sentiments but did not distort history – Jitendra Awhad

Thane – “I said that Shriram was a non-vegetarian. For those, who oppose my statement, I can give a reference from Valmiki Ramayan. There is a verse in ‘Ayodhya Kand’. I am not reading it out. Translations by Mamata Nath Dutta, IIT Kanpur, Geeta Press, Hariprasad Shastri etc. are available. Despite the reference in Valmiki Ramayana, if people want to criticise and file a case against me, they should think about who would they file a case ? There is a reference even in the film ‘Annapoorani’ about it. I have not distorted the history”, stated Jitendra Awhad of NCP, (Sharad Pawar faction) responding to criticism. He expressed regret for hurting people’s sentiments. He also said that he was not afraid of anyone filing a case against him. He said he has expressed regret which means he felt sad.

#WATCH | On his “non-vegetarian” comment on Lord Ram, NCP-Sharad Pawar faction leader Jitendra Awhad says, “I express regret. I did not want to hurt anyone’s sentiments.” pic.twitter.com/wFIAXQXAKb

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2024

Awhad added, “Shriram belongs to ‘Bahujans’. Our Shriram didn’t believe in caste. He consumed berries given by Shabari. I want to tell those, who are chanting Shriram’s name, that they were politicising Shriram for votes. Our Shriram is in our hearts since our birth.”

Editorial Perspectives 

• Awhad insults Shri Saraswati or Shriram or Hindu Dharma in a very derogatory language as he wishes. This shows Hindu hatred running through his blood. Do the Hindus voting for Awhad, agree with his views ?
• Please note that Awhad who keeps on insulting Hindu Deities, never says a word against places or objects of worship of Muslims or Christians !
• Please note that Sharad Pawar neither says a word nor stops Jitendra Awhad from making such controversial statements against Hindu Deities.
• Why are the Police, who promptly register cases against devout Hindus for their alleged ‘hate speech’, silent now ?