NCP leader Jitendra Awhad apologies for 'Lord Ram was non-vegetarian' remark

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awhad apologised on Thursday for his remarks that Lord Ram was a "non-vegetarian" contrary to common belief.

The former Maharashtra minister triggered a controversy on Wednesday by saying that Ram used to hunt and eat during his exile.

While issuing a clarification, Ahwad said that his statements were based on sound research, but extended his apology regardless, adding that he didn't intend to hurt anyone's feelings.

Addressing an event in Maharashtra's Shirdi on Wednesday, Awhad, an NCP-Sharad Pawar faction leader, had said, "Ram is ours, he is of the Bahujan. Ram used to hunt and eat. You want us to become vegetarians, but we consider him our ideal and eat mutton. He was not a vegetarian but a non-vegetarian."

On Thursday, the NCP leader clarified saying, "I don't speak without research... I don't want to intensify, but if someone is hurt by what I said then I apologise."

"There have been numerous instances where I have delivered speeches, and I have never distorted anything in my speech. I do not wish to escalate this issue. But in Valmiki ramayana, there are many kand (books) in which there is Ayodhya kand, in which there is a shlok (verse) 102 which mentions it," he added.

"A person living in a jungle for 14 years, where will he go looking for vegetarian food? Right or wrong? I always say right," Awhad further said.

Awhad's remarks on Ram's dietary habits came after days a BJP MLA urged the Maharashtra government to ban alcohol and meat for a day on the Ayodhya consecration ceremony day on January 22.

Meanwhile, a police complaint has been filed against the former Maharashtra minister for making objectionable remarks.

"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 gown down well with the 'ghamandi' alliance," BJP Maharashtra MLA Ram Kadam, who filed the complaint, said.