After Pune, NCP MLA Awhad faces FIR in Mumbai over 'Lord Ram was non-vegetarian' remark
Mumbai (PTI): The Mumbai police have registered a case against NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad over his remark that Lord Ram was a non-vegetarian, an official said on Saturday.
The first information report (FIR) against the legislator was filed at the MIDC police station in suburban Andheri late Friday night, he said.
A similar case was registered against him in Pune city on Friday.
Awhad, who belongs to the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), represents the Mumbra-Kalwa assembly constituency in Thane district.
"The case against Awhad was filed in Mumbai based on a complaint lodged by Gautam Ravriya, an office-bearer of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). The complainant said that he heard Awhad making objectionable remarks against Lord Ram on a news channel," the police official said.
Awhad was booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 295 (A) (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), he said.
Awhad kicked up a row three days ago when he said that Lord Ram was a non-vegetarian.
"He used to hunt and eat. He is ours, of bahujans. You (an apparent reference to the BJP) are turning us into vegetarians, (but) we are following the example of Ram and consuming mutton," he said at an NCP conclave at Shirdi on Wednesday.
The term 'bahujan' is used to denote the non-Brahmin sections of society in Maharashtra.
The MLA later said he would express regret if anybody's sentiments were hurt.
In Pune, the FIR against Awhad was registered based on a complaint lodged by the Bharatiya Janata Party's city unit chief Dhiraj Ghate, police said.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
