'Sanatan Dharma ruined India': NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad's remarks invite criticism from BJP, NDA allies

Mumbai: In a statement that sparked off a political row in Maharashtra with pan-India ramifications, senior NCP (SP) leader Dr Jitendra Awhad in Sunday said that Sanatan Dharma has ruined India - inviting severe criticism from the BJP and its NDA allies.

“Those who repeatedly attacked Mahatma Gandhi and fired bullets at the unarmed Mahatma while he was going to pray were Sanatan terrorists,” he said.

The 61-year-old Dr Awhad, a former minister and a four-time MLA from Mumbra-Kalwa in Thane district, is considered close to NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar party’s working president Supriya Sule.

It may be mentioned, Dr Ahwad has earned doctorate for his thesis on socio-religious movements in Maharashtra from University of Mumbai.

Dr Awhad spoke to reporters and put a long post on X to justify his views, saying, “Sanatan terrorism must be acknowledged! The existence of Sanatan terrorism is not a recent phenomenon; rather, it has existed since ancient times.”

Justifying further, he said, "Those who persecuted Lord Buddha were none other than Sanatan terrorists. Those who killed Buddhist monks in those times were Sanatan terrorists. Those who killed Charvaka were Sanatan terrorists. Those who killed Basaveshwara were Sanatan terrorists. Those who tormented Sant Dnyaneshwar were Sanatan terrorists. Those who harassed Sant Tukaram and destroyed his Gatha were Sanatan terrorists.”

Besides, he said, “Those who denied Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj his coronation, saying he had no right to call himself a king and mocked him, were Sanatan terrorists. Those who conspired with the enemy to plot the murder of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj were Sanatan terrorists. Those who handed him over to the enemy were also Sanatan terrorists. Those who imposed a social boycott on Mahatma Phule, hired assassins, and attempted his murder were Sanatan terrorists. Those who threw cow dung at Savitribai Phule, the pioneer of women’s education, for inspiring women to study were Sanatan terrorists. Those who defamed Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and attempted his murder were Sanatan terrorists.”

Writing further, Dr Ahwad said, "Those who labeled a class as Shudra and prevented them from entering temples were Sanatan terrorists. Those who refused to let humans live as humans and deprived Shudras of water were Sanatan terrorists. Agarkar was targeted for assassination simply because he opposed Sanatan tendencies; those who attempted to kill him were Sanatan terrorists. Those who forced Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar to sit outside the classroom and tried to deprive him of education were Sanatan terrorists.”

On the recent killings, he said, “ Those who murdered Narendra Dabholkar, who fought to eradicate superstitions, were Sanatan terrorists. Those who killed Govind Pansare, who fought for social equality, were Sanatan terrorists. Those who killed Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh to stop their social reform work were Sanatan terrorists. Those who believed women have no place in society and are merely objects of pleasure were Sanatan terrorists. Those who considered their own mother an object's pleasure were Sanatan terrorists.”

He went on to add that those who considered Manusmriti, which the Constitution written by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar opposed, as their constitution were Sanatan terrorists.

“It is this Sanatan terrorism that pushed India into the caste system and imposed an unequal varna system in the country. If these are not to be called Sanatan terrorists, then what should they be called? The term "Sanatan terrorism" has existed for thousands of years and will continue to exist for thousands more. As long as the caste system and varna system exist, Sanatan terrorism cannot be forgotten,” he said.

Reacting to it, BJP MLA Ram Kadam said, “The statement by the leader of Sharad Pawar's faction is based on an incomplete study of the scriptures… Will they now do this for politics… defame Sanatan Dharma?”