Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Jitendra Awhad sparked a political firestorm on Sunday after delivering a pointed critique of Sanatan Dharma, labelling it a “distorted ideology” responsible for social oppression and historical injustices in India.
Speaking to the media, Awhad accused Sanatan Dharma of fostering orthodoxy and regressive practices that, in his view, have hindered India’s progress. “Sanatan has ruined India. It promotes backwardness,” he said.
Drawing on historical events, Awhad alleged that the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was delayed due to rigid orthodox beliefs associated with Sanatan traditions. He also claimed that Shivaji’s son, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, was vilified by those upholding these same values.
The NCP leader further cited the mistreatment of pioneering social reformers. He recounted that Savitribai Phule, one of India’s first women educators, was pelted with cow dung an act he attributed to the entrenched casteist mindset of the time. He also alleged that an assassination plot against Shahu Maharaj, the reformist ruler of Kolhapur, stemmed from ideological resistance to his progressive policies.
Awhad went on to criticize the treatment of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar under the Sanatan fold, saying Ambedkar was denied basic rights such as access to water and education. He highlighted Ambedkar’s rejection of the Manusmriti and the broader Sanatan framework as a deliberate stand against caste discrimination.
“Sanatan was never a religion. It is a regressive ideology masquerading as tradition,” Awhad asserted, urging people to call it out without hesitation.
His remarks have drawn widespread attention and backlash on social media, particularly from right-wing groups who view Sanatan Dharma as an integral part of India’s cultural and spiritual heritage. While no official response has been issued yet by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or Hindu religious organizations, the statements are expected to intensify debates around caste, religion, and historical interpretation in Indian politics.
