![Jitendra Awhad](http://media.assettype.com/vikatan%2F2024-01%2Fefb0cece-b2c1-4cb4-a001-6b7265801766%2FJitendra_Awhad__202401041113012237_H__IGHT_0_W__IDTH_600.png?rect=0%2C0%2C599%2C337&w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
As the scheduled inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22 approaches, a fresh controversy has emerged, sparked by remarks made by Jitendra Awhad, a former Maharashtra minister affiliated with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Awhad claimed that Lord Ram, central to Hindu beliefs and revered as a deity, consumed non-vegetarian food, raising objections and leading to protests by opposing factions.
Awhad's comments, asserting that Lord Ram "belongs to us, he belongs to the people. He hunted and ate animals. He is a Bahujan," stirred outrage among various groups, particularly those who consider Lord Ram as a divine figure. The remarks were deemed offensive to the sentiments of the Hindu community, leading to demonstrations outside Awhad's residence.
The Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP strongly opposed Awhad's statements and staged a protest outside his house, shouting slogans against him. BJP MLA Ram Kadam, leading the protest, vowed to file a complaint against Awhad, accusing him of hurting Hindu sentiments. In a social media post, Kadam criticized Awhad's comments and claimed that if the late Balasaheb Thackeray were alive, he would have condemned such statements in Saamana, the Shiv Sena's mouthpiece.
Awhad's controversial remarks questioned the dietary habits of Lord Ram during his fourteen years in the forest, challenging the conventional understanding of the revered figure's lifestyle. The ongoing protests prompted the deployment of additional police personnel outside Awhad's residence to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, preparations for the grand inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram temple continue, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to attend the consecration ceremony. The controversy over Lord Ram's purported diet adds a contentious layer to the religious and cultural significance of the upcoming event, inviting debates and discussions among various sections of society.