Ruta Awhad, wife of NCP leader Jitendra Awhad, has sparked significant controversy with her recent comments comparing the notorious terrorist Osama bin Laden to the esteemed former Indian President, APJ Abdul Kalam. During an event in Thane on Thursday, Ruta controversially suggested that society was to blame for bin Laden’s transformation into a terrorist.
In a video that has since gone viral, she stated, “Read the biography of Osama Bin Laden. Just like APJ Abdul Kalam became Kalam Saheb, Osama became a terrorist. But why did he become a terrorist? He was not born one. Society made him one. He became a terrorist out of frustration.”
These remarks have drawn sharp backlash from various political circles and the public, particularly for equating bin Laden—a figure widely regarded as a global terrorist—with Kalam, a revered scientist and humanitarian.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla was quick to condemn Ruta Awhad’s comments. He shared the video on social media, accusing the NCP and its INDIA alliance partners, including Congress, of frequently defending individuals linked to terrorism. Poonawalla expressed his outrage on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “NCP Sharad Pawar faction leader Jeetendra Awhad’s wife defends and eulogizes Osama Bin Laden. Compares him to APJ Abdul Kalam! Says society made him a terrorist!”
This incident has reignited a broader debate regarding the leniency shown by certain political leaders towards individuals associated with terrorism. Critics have pointed to Jitendra Awhad’s previous defense of Ishrat Jahan, who was accused of being linked to terrorist activities, as further evidence of this troubling trend.
As of now, neither Jitendra Awhad nor the NCP has publicly commented on or defended Ruta Awhad’s controversial remarks. The political fallout from this incident is likely to escalate tensions between the BJP and opposition parties, particularly in the lead-up to upcoming elections.
