A controversy has arisen following MP Supriya Sule’s statement about eating non-vegetarian food. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded to her statement, stating he would not comment and that devotees of the Varkari sect would provide their own response. The Varkari community, known for their devotion to Pandurang, typically refrains from violence and adheres to a vegetarian diet.
Supriya Sule stated, “My non-vegetarian food is acceptable to my Pandurang.” She mentioned that she doesn’t like to speak negatively, as she follows Ramkrishna Hari and worships Lord Pandurang. She doesn’t wear a Tulsi mala (holy basil beads) because she occasionally eats non-vegetarian food, and she doesn’t lie. She questioned what the issue was if her consumption of non-vegetarian food was acceptable to her deity. She added that her parents and in-laws also eat non-vegetarian food, and they spend their own money on it, and they are open about it. She mentioned that a single instance of her eating non-vegetarian food sparked considerable discussion, asking if she had committed a sin by doing so, and affirmed that she eats non-vegetarian food openly, which is why she doesn’t wear a Tulsi mala.
BJP leader Nitesh Rane also reacted to Supriya Sule’s statement, questioning why she only makes statements about Hinduism and asking if she would dare make similar statements about other religions’ festivals. He stated that repeatedly targeting Hinduism and Hindu deities is not appropriate.