Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde. File Pic
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on Wednesday clarified her statements regarding her recovery with the help of a Jain spiritual leader, amid controversy over misinterpretations of her remarks.
Speaking at a Mahavir Jayanti event in Borivali, Tawde had said, "The Jain godman helped me get well from my throat issue. His prayers helped me recover." At a press conference, she explained, "People are taking this in the wrong way. I do not support superstitions; I support our faith and believe in my faith. All the false claims and derogatory comments about me are very shameful. All I said was that the Jain Maharaj helped me⦠he told me to say âOm,' and with the vibration of the sound of Om, my throat came back to life."
Tawde also objected to attempts to link the Maharaj's name to criminal cases, calling it "extremely shameful." She said, "He is a very well-known and learned personality. Do not attach his name to criminals like Kharat." Taking a dig at Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, she added, "Sanjay Raut should watch his mouth. How can he speak about a woman like this? He has a wife and daughters, yet he does not understand how to respect women."
She further elaborated, "Some people, including Sanjay Raut, have spoken without understanding. This is not about superstition; it is about faith. Eknath Shinde was also present at the Jain-focused program. I had visited Gurudev Namramuni Maharaj when I was suffering from throat issues. He advised me to chant âOm.' When we chant âOm,' it exercises the throat and provides relief. At that time, we, including MLA Parag Shah, corporator Rakhi Jadhav, and Dharmesh Giri, went to Gujarat to receive his blessings.
"The Maharaj guided us to chant Om, and I have been practising it consistently every day since. As a result, my throat has improved. I was simply sharing my experience, and there was no intention of promoting superstition. We are all devotees of Swami Samarth and Sai Baba, and we follow the respected Namramuniji."
Tawde expressed frustration at the media coverage, saying, "Before I even reached home, such news had already been circulated. It is filthy and disgusting. Who are you associating with whom? I truly feel bad about this."
The clarifications came following her participation in the "Bhagwan Mahavir Janma Kalyanak Mahotsav" in Borivali, celebrated with great enthusiasm in the auspicious presence of Rashtrasant Param Gurudev Shri Namramuni Maharaj. The event, imbued with the inspiring thoughts of Bhagwan Mahavir, was attended by several prominent leaders.
State dignitaries present included Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde, Cabinet Minister Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha, BJP Mumbai President Shri Amit Satam, and MLAs Shri Paragbhai Shah, Shri Sanjay Upadhyay, and Shri Murji Patel, along with other ministers and officials.
