Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Bengal CM Defends Preacher Amid Durga Puja Food Controversy
Religious preacher Dhirendra Krishna Shastri asked Hindus in Bengal to avoid selling or eating non-vegetarian food during Navratri and Durga Puja.
His comments started a political argument.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said Shastri was only sharing his own belief.
He said people could choose whether or not to follow it.
Adhikari also asked police to arrest people accused of burning pictures of the preacher.
Later, Adhikari ate fish as part of a temple offering at Kalighat.
This showed that fish and meat can also be part of some Bengali religious traditions.
Several political parties criticised Shastri’s remarks.
BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya said Bengalis should decide for themselves what they eat and wear.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari defended Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s appeal to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja.
Adhikari said Shastri had expressed a personal religious opinion and had not imposed it on anyone.
Adhikari directed the Kolkata Police commissioner to arrest people accused of burning Shastri’s photographs outside Bhawanipore police station.
Adhikari later ate fish-based bhog at Kalighat Kali Temple, highlighting Bengal’s religious and culinary traditions.
Congress, the Trinamool Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) criticised Shastri, while BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya rejected attempts to dictate Bengali food choices.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, religious preacher Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya, and political parties including Congress, the Trinamool Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
- What
- A political dispute over Shastri’s appeal concerning non-vegetarian food during Navratri and Durga Puja, followed by protests and competing responses from Bengal politicians.
- When
- Shastri made the appeal on September 6; Adhikari defended him and addressed the protests on Thursday, September 10.
- Where
- The dispute involved Liluah and Howrah, protests outside Bhawanipore police station in Kolkata, and Adhikari’s visit to Kalighat Kali Temple.
- Why
- Shastri’s comments were criticised as interference in Bengali food traditions, while Adhikari described them as a personal opinion and defended his right to express it.
Defending Religious Expression
Protecting Bengali Food Autonomy
Meaning of Shastri’s remarks
Defending Religious Expression
Suvendu Adhikari said Shastri was expressing a personal religious opinion and that people could accept or reject it.
Protecting Bengali Food Autonomy
Critics argued that the appeal questioned Bengali food habits and traditions, particularly the consumption of fish and meat.
Food and religious practice
Defending Religious Expression
Supporters connected the appeal to Navratri, Durga Puja and practices around Goddess idols.
Protecting Bengali Food Autonomy
Samik Bhattacharya and others stressed that Bengalis should decide what they eat and wear, noting that fish and goat meat are part of some local religious traditions.
Response to protests
Defending Religious Expression
Adhikari called for the arrest of people allegedly involved in burning Shastri’s photographs, saying such acts would not be tolerated.
Protecting Bengali Food Autonomy
Congress workers protested Shastri’s remarks, while the Trinamool Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) also criticised him.
- Preacher
- Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba
- Appeal date
- September 6
- Shastri’s appeal
- He asked Hindus in Bengal not to sell non-vegetarian food near Goddess idols during Navratri and was also described as urging people to refrain from cooking or consuming fish and meat during Durga Puja.
- Adhikari’s position
- He said Shastri had expressed a personal view and had not forced anyone to follow it.
- Police direction
- Adhikari directed the Kolkata Police commissioner to arrest people accused of burning Shastri’s photographs outside Bhawanipore police station.
- Kalighat offering
- Adhikari ate fish head, fried fish and basanti pulao as temple bhog at Kalighat Kali Temple.
- BJP response
- Samik Bhattacharya said no visiting religious figure could dictate what Bengalis should eat or wear.
