NEW DELHI: The Congress‘ West Bengal unit on Tuesday lodged a police complaint against Bageshwar Dham head priest Dhirendra Shastri over his recent “avoid non-veg during Durga Puja” remark, asserting that the call was “intended to create disharmony.”In the complaint submitted to the officer-in-charge of Kolkata’s Bhawanipore police station, the South Kolkata District Congress Committee alleged that Shastri made “derogatory” comments during an event in Howrah on September 5.“We want to apprise you that immediate administrative action needs to be initiated, and an FIR needs to be registered with necessary arrests. His remarks could spark disharmony in society and were against the democratic spirit,” Congress leader Pradip Prasad said in the complaint, according to PTI.The self-styled godman, popularly known as “Bageshwar Baba,” had appealed to Bengalis to give up non-vegetarian food during the Durga Puja festivities and described those who eat meat on religious occasions as “hypocrites.”
Congress, BJP on same page
The Congress’ move put it on the same page as the BJP, West Bengal’s ruling party, in a rare display of unity between the two national rivals.BJP West Bengal chief Samik Bhattacharya had already rejected Shastri’s call, saying that Bengalis would “continue to eat what they have been eating.”“We generally eat ‘luchi’ on Ashtami and goat meat on Navami. We will continue to do that. Nobody can tell the people of West Bengal what they should eat,” Bhattacharya said.“Let me live the way I want to. Bengalis will eat what they have been eating. Can Bengalis not eat fish and meat?” he asked, quoting Swami Vivekananda.
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While saying that he respected Shastri as a religious figure, Bhattacharya argued that the self-styled godman’s personal views should not dictate what Bengali society should eat.
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The issue has sparked a wider debate in West Bengal, where fish and meat are closely associated with traditional Bengali cuisine, while religious practices vary across communities and regions.Durga Puja, celebrated with great pomp and fervour in West Bengal, will be held from October 16-20.
