Poet Kumar Vishwas has sparked controversy after making a veiled remark about actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha and his daughter, actor Sonakshi Sinha, during a public event in Uttar Pradesh. The comment, which many believe was aimed at Sonakshi’s recent interfaith marriage, has triggered a heated debate online.

Speaking at a poetry event, Vishwas said, "Teach your children the Ramayana, or someone else might take away the 'Lakshmi' of your house, even if the house is named 'Ramayana'."

Shatrughan Sinha’s Mumbai residence is named 'Ramayana,' and Sonakshi recently married her longtime boyfriend, actor Zaheer Iqbal, suggesting that Vishwas was referencing their marriage.

Congress leaders quickly condemned the remark. Supriya Shrinate, a senior Congress leader, described Vishwas’s comments as “lewd” and “cheap,” accusing him of making such remarks for applause.

"Doesn’t a girl have the right to marry the person of her choice?" she questioned, urging the poet to reconsider his words.

She further added that if Vishwas had truly understood the Ramayana, he would have grasped the concept of love portrayed in the epic.

"Poet Sir, who teaches others’ children to read the Ramayana and Geeta—while hating the religion of Sonakshi’s husband—have you forgotten how beautifully mutual love is depicted in the Ramayana?” she asked.

Another Congress leader, Surendra Rajput, also strongly condemned Vishwas’s comments, calling them "cheap" and stating that even "Lord Rama will not forgive them."

He also addressed Vishwas directly, reminding him that he, too, has a daughter.

"Remember, with all the meanness and shamelessness with which you have tried to tarnish Shatrughan Sinha Sir and his daughter Sonakshi Sinha, all the mud will fall on your face one day," he tweeted.

Vishwas’s remarks have divided opinion online, with many social media users slamming the poet for his insensitive comments. 

So far, Vishwas has not publicly responded to the controversy.