NCP leader (Sharad Pawar faction)  Jitendra Awhad has said that Lord Ram was a Bahujan and a non-vegetarian.

“Lord Ram belongs to us, Bahujans. He used to hunt and eat animals. He is a Bahujan. They are trying to make everyone a vegetarian by giving Lord Ram’s example. But Lord Ram was not a vegetarian, he was a non-vegetarian. A person who has stayed in the forest for 14 years – where will he go to find vegetarian food?” Awhad said, referring to the years Lord Ram spent in the forests.

The comment, which comes ahead of the grand consecration of the new Ram temple in Ayodhya later this month, has sparked a massive controversy.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam hit back at Awhad over his remarks. “If late Balasaheb were alive today, today’s Saamna newspaper would have spoken harshly to those who called Lord Ram a non-vegetarian,” Kadam said in a post on X.

“But what is the reality today, anyone can say anything about Lord Ram, anyone can make fun of Hindus. They don’t care. They are as cold as ice. But when the turn of elections comes, they will talk about Hindutva by gathering false power,” he added.

Reacting to the row that his comment triggered, Awhad said, “What is the controversy that what did Lord Ram eat? Someone will claim Lord Ram used to eat methi-bhaji (fenugreek leaves fritters) There was no rice at that time. Lord Ram was a Kshatriya and Kshatriyas are non-vegetarians. I absolutely stand by what I said. 80% of India’s population are non-vegetarians, they are also devotees of Lord Ram,” Awhad said.