Nationalist Congress Party’s Latur unit chief has said that the party leader Jitendra Awhad’s statement on Lord Ram was his personal opinion and not that of the party. Awhad, who represents the Mumbra-Kalwa assembly constituency in Thane district, had kicked up a row three days ago with his remark.

"Lord Ram used to hunt and eat. He is ours, of bahujans (a term traditionally used for those not belonging to the priestly or ruling classes). You (an apparent reference to the BJP) are turning us into vegetarians, (but) we are following the example of Ram and consuming mutton," he said at an NCP conclave at Shirdi on January 3.