Ruta Awhad’s Controversial Remarks Ignite Politics

Ruta Awhad, the wife of Nationalist Congress Party — Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP) leader Jitendra Awhad, recently sparked a political controversy with her remarks. She drew a parallel between former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and terrorist Osama bin Laden. Her statement has caused a stir in political circles.

During a public event in Thane, Awhad suggested that Osama bin Laden was not born a terrorist but became one due to societal factors. She urged students to read bin Laden’s biography to understand how he evolved into a terrorist.

“You must read the biography of Osama bin Laden. Just as APJ Abdul Kalam became the president, Osama bin Laden became a terrorist. But why did he become a terrorist? It was society that forced him into that path,” Awhad said.

Her remarks immediately drew sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala took to X (formerly Twitter) to slam Awhad and the NCP-SP. He wrote, “NCP Sharad Pawar faction leader Jeetendra Awhad’s wife praises and compares Osama bin Laden to A.P.J. Abdul Kalam! Does Sharad Pawar and Rahul Gandhi endorse the view that Osama bin Laden was a ‘happen to be terrorist’?”

BJP spokesperson Pradip Bhandari accused the opposition INDIA bloc, of which NCP-SP is a member, of resorting to appeasement politics ahead of assembly elections in Maharashtra. He stated, “Now the INDIE alliance and MVA have started a new strategy — encouraging the wives of leaders to make statements that indicate soft support for terror!”

This controversy adds fuel to the ongoing political battle between the Eknath Shinde-led coalition government and opposition parties as the state heads toward upcoming elections. Neither Jitendra Awhad nor the NCP leadership has yet responded to the issue.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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