'There should be no tension between vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals,' argues Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister

Union minister Ramdas Athawale denounced student riots at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Monday, saying there should be no dispute over vegetarian and non-vegetarian food consumption and that people should respect each other's feelings.

 

Athawale also criticised the "assault" on NCP head Sharad Pawar's residence in Mumbai by a group of striking Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees last Friday, speaking to the media here. "The JNU is a prestigious and large university. Such clashes between students with opposing beliefs, in my opinion, should not occur. All ideologies should work together to strengthen India's unity. What happened at JNU, in my opinion, should not have happened and should be investigated "Athawale stated.

 

According to the minister, it is not improper if certain students decide not to eat non-vegetarian food on Ram Navami. On Ram Navami, two groups clashed at JNU's Kaveri Hostel here, apparently over the provision of non-vegetarian food in the mess.

The RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) claimed that students from Left-wing organisations were attempting to disrupt a Ram Navami puja by raising the issue of serving non-vegetarian food as a diversionary technique.

 

The ABVP, on the other hand, has been accused by the Left-led JNU Students Union (JNUSU) of "orchestrating the incident and unleashing violence in the name of food." "There should be no tension between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food consumption, and everyone should appreciate each other," Athawale, a BJP ally, added. MNS president Raj Thackeray was also chastised by the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment for demanding the removal of loudspeakers from mosques.

 

 

"Countering 'azaan' (Muslim call to prayer) from loudspeakers atop mosques with Hanuman Chalisa is a bad idea. Loudspeakers are installed in temples as well. As a result, opposing for the sake of opposition isn't a good thing "Added he. Raj Thackeray is the party's tallest leader, according to Athawale, but he is not the son of late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.

 

"He is Balasaheb Thackeray's nephew, but not his heir. Balasaheb Thackeray's heir is Uddhav Thackeray (Chief Minister and Sena founder's son). But it's a shame he won't be able to visit us (BJP-led NDA). 'Shiv Shakti-Bhim Shakti' was propagated by Balasaheb Thackeray (coming together of Sena and Dalit). He was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) "The head of the RPI (Athawale) added.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @RamdasAthawale