Athawale: Nothing wrong if some JNU students wanted to avoid non-veg food on Ram Navami

Ram Navami is a sacred festival of Hindus and in such a scenario, I think if some students had taken a stand to not consume non-veg on that day, their stand is not wrong, said Athawale while talking to reporters here.Athawale, an ally of the BJP, said there should not be any conflict over consumption of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food and people should respect each others sentiments.The JNU is a big and reputed university.

Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Monday said there was nothing wrong if some students at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) took a stand to not consume non-vegetarian food on the day of Ram Navami, but maintained there should not be any friction on the issue of what one wants to eat.

Condemning the clashes between students at the JNU on Sunday (when Ram Navami was celebrated), he said people should respect each others sentiments when it comes to food habits.

''I think everyone's sentiments should be respected. Our country belongs to all communities and sentiments of all communities should be respected. Ram Navami is a sacred festival of Hindus and in such a scenario, I think if some (students) had taken a stand to not consume non-veg on that day, their stand is not wrong,'' said Athawale while talking to reporters here.

Athawale, an ally of the BJP, said there should not be any conflict over consumption of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food and people should respect each others sentiments.

''The JNU is a big and reputed university. I think such conflicts between students belonging to different ideologies should not happen. In fact, all the ideologies should work towards strengthening the unity of India. I think whatever happened in the JNU, should not have happened and it should be probed,'' said Athawale.

The Union minister also condemned the ''attack'' on NCP chief Sharad Pawar's residence in Mumbai by a group of striking employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) on Friday last.

Two groups had clashed at the JNU's Kaveri Hostel here on Sunday allegedly over serving of non-vegetarian food in the mess on Ram Navami.

RSS-affiliate Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) alleged students from Left-backed outfits wanted to disrupt a Ram Navami puja, and are using diversionary tactics by raising the issue of serving of non-vegetarian food. However, the Left-led JNU Students Union (JNUSU) has accused the ABVP of ''orchestrating the incident and unleashing violence in the name of food''.

The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment also criticized MNS president Raj Thackeray for demanding removal of loudspeakers atop mosques.

''It is a wrong stand to counter 'azaan' (Muslim call for prayer) from loudspeakers atop mosques with Hanuman Chalisa. There are temples too where loudspeakers are fitted. So opposition for the sake of opposition is not good,'' he added.

Athawale said Raj Thackeray is the tallest leader of his party, but he is not the heir of Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray.

''He is a nephew of Balasaheb Thackeray, but not his heir. Uddhav Thackeray (Chief Minister and Sena founder's son) is the heir of Balasaheb Thackeray. But it is sad he is not coming to us (BJP-led NDA ). Balasaheb Thackeray was a propagator of 'Shiv Shakti-Bhim Shakti' (coming together of Sena and Dalit). He was with the BJP,'' the RPI (Athawale) president added.

He said it is not too late for the Shiv Sena to joins hands with the BJP once again.

Athawale claimed had Bal Thackeray been alive today, he would not have allowed Uddhav Thackeray, who now heads the Shiv Sena, to go with the NCP and the Congress.

''Now also its not too late and Uddhav Thackeray can come to us. The formula of sharing CM's position for 2.5-2.5 years (between Sena and BJP) can also be considered. In the interest of the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra, he should change his decision...the Congress and the NCP should be ousted from power and the BJP should be brought to power (in alliance with Sena),'' he said.

The Shiv Sena snapped ties with the BJP after the 2019 Assembly polls and joined hands with the Congress and the NCP to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.