Actor Rahul Solapurkar now faces flak over remarks on Ambedkar; apologises
Pune, Feb 9 (PTI): A fresh row erupted on Sunday after actor Rahul Solapurkar described Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar as a "Brahmin" in the Vedic context of gaining knowledge, days after his podcast on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj triggered protests.
Amid the backlash, Solapurkar apologised, expressing regret over his choice of words concerning Ambedkar, the social reformer and chief architect of India’s Constitution.
In a video that surfaced on social media, the actor claimed Ambedkar was born to Ramji Sakpal in a Bahujan family. Later, he was adopted by his teacher who gave him his surname, he said.
"In the Vedas, it is said that a man who gains knowledge becomes a Brahmin. In that sense, Ambedkar was Brahmin because he gained knowledge," said the actor.
NCP (SP) legislator Jitendra Awhad rebuked Solapurkar over his remarks.
Sharing the video on X, Awhad said, “Rahul Solapurkar has now crossed all limits. He should be beaten with shoes wherever he is seen. It is people like him, driven by casteist ideologies, who have ruined Maharashtra and the country,” said Awhad.
Facing criticism, Solapurkar, who has appeared in several Marathi films, tendered an apology over his remarks about Ambedkar.
“I have given multiple lectures on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Babasaheb Ambedkar. I am completely unaware of why such videos are being circulated on social media. Once again, I apologise to everybody for the remarks I made. In future, I will not make any incorrect statements about national icons,” he said.
Days ago, the actor had sparked a row with his comments in a podcast about Shivaji Maharaj's great escape in 1666.
Solapurkar had said that the iconic 17th-century warrior king escaped from Agra Fort by bribing Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's officials, and not by concealing himself in a basket of sweets as per the popular account.
After protests by Maratha outfits, Solapurkar resigned as a trustee of the Pune-based Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) and said he regretted using the word “bribe” and hurting the sentiments of those who revere Chhatrapati Shivaji.
राहुल सोलापूरकरने आता सर्वच मर्यादा ओलांडल्या आहेत. हा जिथे दिसेल तिथेच त्याला जोड्याने मारायला हवा. याच्यासारख्या मनुवाद्यांनीच महाराष्ट्राचे , देशाचे वाटोळे केले आहे. राहुल सोलापूरकरने छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज यांच्याबाबत केलेल्या वक्तव्याबद्दल माफी मागितलेली नाही. आता तर डाॅ… pic.twitter.com/DHfhVgohqe
— Dr.Jitendra Awhad (@Awhadspeaks) February 9, 2025
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
