During the event, Patil stated, “The discussion of jihad in the religion of Islam comes to the fore when, despite having the right intentions and doing the right thing, nobody understands or reciprocates, then it is said one can use force.” He continued, asserting that the concept is not exclusive to the Quran but is also present in the Mahabharata, specifically in the part where Shri Krishna talks to Arjun. Patil emphasized that the use of force should only occur when peaceful explanations fail and people resort to weapons.

The BJP swiftly responded to Patil’s statement. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticized the Congress leader, accusing him of Hindu hatred and playing divisive politics. Poonawalla claimed that such statements were part of a deliberate strategy before the Gujarat polls to polarize voters. Other BJP representatives, including Vinit Goenka and Prem Shukla, condemned Patil’s remarks, accusing the Congress of insulting Hinduism.

In response to the criticism, Patil clarified that he did not use the term “jihad” and questioned the interpretation, asking if lessons from Krishna to Arjun could be labeled as such. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, in turn, insisted that Patil was now defending his statement with excuses rather than offering a straightforward apology.

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi expressed his disdain for Patil’s remarks, describing them as a symbol of the Congress party’s perverse and disgusting mindset. Jairam Ramesh, the Congress’s general secretary and communications in-charge, distanced the party from Patil’s comments, stating that they were unacceptable. Ramesh highlighted the universal nature of the Bhagavad Gita and shared an excerpt from Jawaharlal Nehru’s book, “The Discovery of India,” emphasizing the Gita’s non-sectarian and inclusive message.

Later, Patil tweeted about his early learning of the Bhagavad Gita and its lifelong impact on him, emphasizing its cultural and philosophical significance in Indian society.