The controversy over Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s remarks on Bengali food habits escalated on Thursday after West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari directed the Kolkata Police to arrest people who allegedly burned the preacher’s photographs during a protest in Bhawanipore.
Hours after the chief minister’s statement in the Assembly, an FIR was reportedly registered at Bhawanipore police station against a person in connection with the alleged burning of a poster of Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba.
Police said an investigation had begun, although no arrest had been reported till Thursday night.
The development came amid a growing political confrontation over Shastri’s comments during his recent three-day Hanumant Katha programme in Liluah, Howrah.
‘We will not tolerate appeasement politics’: Suvendu
Speaking in the Assembly, Adhikari said Shastri had expressed his views in his own capacity and had not forced anyone to follow them.
“Those who want to accept, may accept; those who don’t, will not. He did not force anyone,” he said.
The chief minister, however, objected to the burning of Shastri’s photographs during protests.
“I am telling the Kolkata Police commissioner from here to arrest those men. We will not tolerate any appeasement politics any more.”
Adhikari said the preacher had spoken about issues including patriotism, nationalism, an undivided India and his own cultural beliefs.
What triggered the controversy?
Shastri's remarks were made during his programme in Liluah, where he criticised the consumption and preparation of non-vegetarian food near Durga Puja pandals.
He said,“One thing I despise about West Bengal is that during Durga Puja, non-vegetarian food, dirty food, is cooked behind the Puja pandals.”
He subsequently appealed for support for keeping meat and liquor shops closed during Durga Puja and asked people to signal their support with their mobile phone lights.
Shastri also used the term “pakhandi”, or hypocrites, for people whom he said consumed non-vegetarian food during the festival.
The remarks triggered criticism from political leaders and sections of Bengali society, with opponents arguing that food habits are deeply embedded in Bengal’s cultural and religious traditions.
Congress protests, denies burning photograph
The Congress has filed complaints against Shastri at multiple police stations over his remarks.
On September 8, members of the South Kolkata District Congress Committee went to Bhawanipore police station to lodge a complaint. Party leader Pradip Prasad said they had carried photographs of Shastri as part of their protest but denied burning any of them.
“We lodged a complaint. We had brought pictures of Bageshwar Baba to register our protest but none of us burned any.”
Prasad claimed that somebody else had subsequently burned a photograph a short distance away.
Reacting to the chief minister's demand for arrests, he said: “Someone from outside comes and maligns Bengalis and this is how the chief minister reacts. This speaks of a sorry state of affairs.”
Congress supporters led by Prasad later went to Karaya police station and submitted another complaint against Shastri.
Congress leader admits burning photograph
The controversy took another turn when Congress leader Prasenjit Puitandi of Asansol said he had himself burned a photograph of Shastri in Asansol on Wednesday.
Following the chief minister’s statement, a complaint was lodged against Puitandi at Asansol South police station.
A Congress leader in central Kolkata also indicated that party activists were considering further action to demonstrate that they were not intimidated by the prospect of arrests.
Shastri offers clarification
Amid the backlash, a video circulating on social media showed Shastri attempting to clarify his position. He said his appeal was specifically against non-vegetarian food at Durga Puja pandals and that people remained free to consume meat at home.
He also said he had not intended to issue a diktat and framed his comments as opposition to animal sacrifice.
The controversy has nevertheless continued to intensify, with the issue now developing along both cultural and political lines. While Congress has accused the preacher of insulting Bengali traditions, the BJP government has defended his right to express his views while taking a hard line against protesters accused of burning his photographs.
Police investigations into the alleged poster-burning incidents are continuing, while the status of the multiple complaints filed against Shastri remains under scrutiny.
