A significant controversy has emerged in Indian politics after Ruta Awhad, the wife of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awhad, drew parallels between former President APJ Abdul Kalam and the late terrorist Osama bin Laden. During a public event in Thane, Awhad made the contentious comparison while addressing a gathering of children.
Awhad suggested that Osama bin Laden was not born a terrorist but was driven to terrorism due to societal factors. She urged the students to read bin Laden's biography to understand his transformation into a terrorist, drawing a comparison with how Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam rose to become the President of India. 'You must read the biography of Osama Bin Laden. How APJ Abdul Kalam became the president is similar to the way Osama Bin Laden became a terrorist. But why did he become a terrorist? It was society that forced him to become that way,' she said.
Criticism and Backlash
The remarks quickly sparked widespread criticism, particularly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala condemned Awhad's comments, accusing her and the NCP of defending and glorifying terrorists. Poonawala tweeted, 'NCP Sharad Pawar faction leader Jeetendra Ahwad's wife defends and eulogises Osama bin Laden, compares him to A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Says society made him a terrorist!'
Another BJP spokesperson, Pradip Bhandari, also criticized the opposition INDIA bloc, of which the NCP is a member, for what he termed as 'appeasement politics' ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections. Bhandari questioned whether leaders like Sharad Pawar and Rahul Gandhi endorsed the view that Osama bin Laden was not inherently a terrorist.
Clarification and Defense
Following the backlash, Ruta Awhad claimed that her remarks were distorted and taken out of context. In a video message, she explained that she was encouraging students to read books, including 'Wings of Fire' by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, and to understand the different paths people can take in life. 'I told them to leave their mobile phones and read instead. I had told them to read Wings of Fire by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. His journey is wonderful. I also told them there is another side to life like why Osama Bin Laden became a terrorist,' she clarified.
Awhad further stated that her intention was to highlight the importance of education and how societal factors can shape individuals, using the examples of two contrasting figures. However, she alleged that her statement was presented in a distorted manner.
The controversy has added to the ongoing political tensions between the Eknath Shinde-led coalition government and the opposition parties in Maharashtra, ahead of the upcoming polls.
