Bollywood actor Sonu Sood was embroiled in controversy on 20 July after defending a miscreant caught on camera spitting on rotis he was preparing for customers.

Sonu Sood compares Bhakt Shabri to Islamists

In a post on X, Sonu Sood compared spitting on the rotis to the Ramayana’s Shabri, who tasted berries before offering them to Lord Ram. The actor argued that if Lord Ram could eat the berries tasted by Shabri, people should also accept the rotis that have been spat upon. He justified the spitting as an act of “humanity.” Sonu Sood wrote, “Our Shri Ram Ji ate the berries tasted by Shabri, so why can’t I eat the rotis that have been spat upon? Violence can be defeated by non-violence, my brother. Humanity must remain intact. Jai Shri Ram.”

However, his social media post quickly triggered outrage from users on X, who criticized him for defending the act of spitting on customers’ food. Several users also took issue with his analogy, arguing that it inappropriately equated the miscreant with Shabri and, by extension, likened Sonu Sood to Shri Ram. Political analyst Abhishek Tiwari responded to his post, saying, “The miscreant roti-maker is not Mata Shabri, and you aren’t Ram. Mata Shabri is a symbol of love; this person is spitting out of hatred,” he added.

It is important to note that Sonu Sood made his post in response to a recent order by the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government, which requires eatery owners and operators along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names. This order came after allegations that some miscreants ran their eateries or carts under false Hindu names, leading to occasional law and order issues. Sonu Sood had previously argued that eateries should have nameplates displaying ‘Humanity’ as their identity. His recent controversial post was a reaction to a user who emphasized the importance of the UP government’s order, noting that some miscreants had been accused of spitting in customers’ food.

Shabri episode from Valmiki Ramayan

The Shabri episode occurs in the seventy-fourth sarg of Valmiki Ramayan’s Aranya Kanda. Ram and Lakshman were directed to Matanga Ashram by Kabandha. Shabari informs the brothers that her teachers had foreseen their arrival. She showed the brothers around the ashram, gave them water to wash their hands, feet, and mouths, and offered the fruits she had gathered.

While Valmiki Ramayan mentions that Shabri offered fruits to Ram and Lakshman, nowhere it says that Shabri tasted the fruits before offering them to the brothers. TV serials show Shabri offering tasted fruits taken from Padma Puran. However, when there are conflicting views, Valmiki Ramayan prevails. Therefore, Sonu Sood is wrong on the Dharmic Count.

Comparing the incomparable

If we set aside the correctness as per Dharmic Granthas, Sood’s argument also fails the logic test. He is comparing the incomparable. Shabri’s offering was made with devotion and love. On the other hand, an Islamist deliberately spitting on food reeks of spite and hatred. Pseudo-seculars often try to use Dharmic Granthas for their propaganda by distorting it or taking things out of context. It is high time such distortions are called out.

In the present context, Sood is justifying his ‘secular agenda’ by using fake narratives. Hindu Samaj must understand the agenda behind such narratives and ensure that they don’t allow such pseudo-secular elements to distort Hindu Dharmic Granthas.

(Featured Image Source: OpIndia)