Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Jitendra Awhad on Thursday sought to defend his remark that Lord Ram was a non-vegetarian, citing a research paper on the Valmiki Ramayana by IIT-Kanpur.
Awhad, however, offered an apology if his remarks had hurt anybody’s sentiments.
The NCP leader had stirred up a controversy on Wednesday after he claimed that Lord Ram belonged to the 'Bahujans' (people in the majority) and was non-vegetarian, contrary to common belief. He was speaking at an event in Shirdi.
His remarks sparked off outrage and protests, with BJP MLA Ram Kadam filing a police complaint against him in Mumbai.
Awhad, however, said on Thursday that whatever he had said was not his own interpretation, and pointed to the extensive research conducted by IIT-Kanpur on the Valmiki Ramayana.
"Look, I am telling you I did not bring my own interpretation or views into it. I did not incorporate any ideas of my own. I based my opinion on whatever is written in Valmiki Ramayana," the NCP leader said, addressing a press conference in Mumbai.
"I do express regret if my words offended someone's feelings. I did not wish to hurt anyone's sentiments,” he added.