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Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Jitendra Awhad on Sunday (August 3, 2025) triggered a political storm by saying “Sanatana Dharma has ruined India”. He called its ideology “perverted” and “historically oppressive”. His remarks came in the wake of the acquittal of all seven accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, in the 2008 Malegaon blast case on July 31.
Sanatana Dharma has ruined India, says Pawar’s MLA; BJP hits back
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Jitendra Awhad on Sunday (August 3, 2025) triggered a political storm by saying “Sanatana Dharma has ruined India”. He called its ideology “perverted” and “historically oppressive”. His remarks came in the wake of the acquittal of all seven accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, in the 2008 Malegaon blast case on July 31.
Speaking to journalists here, Mr. Awhad said, “There was never any religion called Sanatana Dharma. We are followers of Hindu Dharma. It was this so-called Sanatana Dharma that denied our Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj his coronation.”
The BJP lashed out Mr. Awhad and his party, with BJP MP Sambit Patra saying, “Sharad Pawar and his daughter, MP Supriya Sule, must clarify whether this is the party's official stance...”. He said that “the entire ecosystem of the Congress party repeatedly abuses Sanatana Dharma and tries to erase it.”
Earlier, in a post on X, Mr. Awhad accused the proponents of Sanatana Dharma of atrocities.
“Those who forced Dr. Ambedkar to sit outside classrooms, deprived Shudras of temple entry and water, and upheld Manusmriti were Sanatana terrorists,” he wrote. “This Sanatana terrorism pushed India into casteism and the unequal varna system. If not called Sanatana terrorists, what else should they be called?”
He said that “Sanatana terrorists” persecuted Lord Buddha, Buddhist monks, Charvaka and Basaveshwara, harassed Sant Tukaram and destroyed his Gatha, “conspired with the enemy” to plot the murder of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and handed him over to the enemy.
“Those who imposed a social boycott on Mahatma Phule, hired assassins, and attempted his murder... Those who threw cow dung at Savitribai Phule, the pioneer of women's education, for inspiring women to study... Those who labelled a class as Shudra and prevented them from entering temples were Sanatana terrorists.”
Hitting back, Mr. Patra said that Sanatana Dharma is “associated with symbols of truth and Shiva”. He said that Mr. Awhad has “insulted truth, opposed Shiva, and spoken against the beauty that embraces respect for all”.
“Whether called Hindu terrorism or Sanatana terrorism, the kind of statements leaders like Prithviraj Chavan make do not happen in any other country. First, majoritarian religions are attacked and then those communities are labelled intolerant. Sanatana Dharma is tolerant and civil, which is why protests are only being registered through press conferences. If similar statements were made saying, ‘Islam is different, Muslims are different', would the response be limited to just a press conference,” he asked.
Ram Kadam, a BJP MLA from Maharashtra, termed Mr. Awhad's remarks “appeasement politics at its worst”. “The statement by the leader of Sharad Pawar's faction is based on an incomplete understanding of scriptures,” he said.
Shiv Sena leader Shaina N.C. called the remarks “ill-educated and preposterous,” accusing Mr. Awhad of promoting caste divisions under the guise of reform.
“It has become a trend for the Opposition to criticise Sanatana Dharma. Jitendra Awhad's statement that Sanatana Dharma is a perverted ideology distinct from Hindu Dharma shows his lack of education, and he is responsible for caste oppression and social exclusion by making such preposterous comments,” she said.
Maharashtra Minister Shambhuraj Desai, also from the Shiv Sena, said, “Sanatana Dharma stands for a distinct ideology and advocates harmony and tolerance. What Mr. Awhad said is totally wrong and unacceptable.”
Published - August 03, 2025 12:39 pm IST
Maharashtra / politics
Source: The Hindu
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