Kolkata, Sept. 8 -- Even as the BJP sought to play down the controversy over Dhirendra Shastri alias Bageshwar Baba's 'avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja' remark, the row escalated on Tuesday with a police complaint being lodged against the seer for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Bengalis and disrespecting the religious and cultural traditions associated with Durga Puja.
South Kolkata district Congress president Pradip Prasad lodged the complaint with the Bhawanipore Police Station.
In the complaint submitted to the officer-in-charge of 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 must be registered with necessary arrests. His remarks could spark disharmony in society and were against the democratic spirit," Prasad said in the complaint.
The self-styled godman, popularly known as "Bageshwar Baba," 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".
Interestingly, Bageshwar Baba brought Congress and BJP on the same page, as the state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya had already rejected Shastri's call, saying that Bengalis would eat meat during puja. ".in the presence of important dignitaries/officials/elected representatives in a function which is also patronised by like-minded people in Liluah (Howrah) had made unruly comments which are dangerous in nature, deeply hurting the sentiments of the Bengali people in our state," read the complaint lodged by Prasad.
Shastri was in Bengal over the weekend and had participated in a dinner attended by Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and ministers in the state government.
State Panchayat minister Dilip Ghosh asserted on Tuesday that eating non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja is an established custom.
"Bengal has a tradition of goat sacrifice during Durga Puja, and that is consumed as prasad. Eating goat meat here is not a matter of controversy. I don't eat anything except fish, but whoever wants to eat whatever they want should be allowed to do so," Ghosh said.
Referring to Bengal's religious traditions, he added: "Swami Vivekananda had said that as long as the country exists, Mother Kali will eat goat meat and Shiva will play the damru." State Urban Development minister Agnimitra Paul said no one can dictate food habits to Bengalis. She said that what Bageshwar Baba said is his opinion and one should not politicise this.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.