2 hrs ago
Fresh Police Complaints Target Bageshwar Baba Over Bengal Remarks
Dhirendra Shastri, who is also called Bageshwar Baba, recently spoke at a religious event in West Bengal.
He told Bengali Hindus to observe Navratri with strong devotion.
He also criticised people for cooking or eating non-vegetarian food near Durga Puja pandals.
He said such people could not be called religious and described them as “pakhandis,” meaning hypocrites.
Congress leaders said these comments insulted Bengal and Bengalis.
They filed complaints at four police stations in Kolkata.
Police confirmed receiving the complaints but said they had not yet registered any FIRs.
Congress leaders said they would continue protesting even if complaints were not converted into FIRs.
Fresh complaints were filed against Dhirendra Shastri, also known as Bageshwar Baba, over remarks made during his Bengal visit.
Complaints were lodged at four Kolkata police stations by district-level leaders of the Indian National Congress.
Kolkata Police confirmed receiving the complaints, but said none had been converted into FIRs.
During a Hanumant Katha programme, Shastri criticised non-vegetarian food being prepared near Durga Puja pandals and called some people “pakhandis.”
Congress leaders accused Shastri of maligning West Bengal and Bengalis and urged colleagues to file further complaints.
- Who
- Dhirendra Shastri, also known as Bageshwar Baba, and district-level Indian National Congress leaders.
- What
- Police complaints were filed over Shastri’s remarks about non-vegetarian food, Bengali Hindus and people in Bengal.
- Where
- The complaints were filed at New Market, Park Street, Amherst Street and Bowbazar police stations in Kolkata; the remarks were made at a programme in Liluah, Howrah.
- When
- The complaints were filed on Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon; the remarks were made during Shastri’s recent three-day visit.
- Why
- Congress leaders said Shastri’s comments maligned West Bengal and Bengalis and were objectionable.
Congress Critics
Shastri’s Stated Religious Position
Characterisation of the remarks
Congress Critics
Congress leaders said Shastri maligned West Bengal and Bengalis and made objectionable comments about their eating habits.
Shastri’s Stated Religious Position
Shastri urged Bengali Hindus to observe Navratri with devotion and criticised non-vegetarian food being consumed or prepared behind Durga Puja pandals.
Police action
Congress Critics
Congress leaders said they would continue lodging complaints and protesting even if they were not converted into FIRs.
Shastri’s Stated Religious Position
Kolkata Police confirmed receiving the complaints but had not converted any of them into an FIR at the time of reporting.
Key facts
- Person named
- Dhirendra Shastri, also known as Bageshwar Baba
- Complaints filed at
- New Market, Park Street, Amherst Street and Bowbazar police stations
- Police status
- Kolkata Police confirmed receiving the complaints; none had been converted into FIRs
- Complainants
- District-level leaders of the Indian National Congress
- Event
- A three-day Hanumant Katha programme
- Event location
- Liluah, Howrah
- Contested remarks
- Comments about non-vegetarian food near Durga Puja pandals and people described as “pakhandis”
Quotes
A Congress leader from central Calcutta
A Congress leader commenting on the police complaints against Shastri.
“I don’t like one thing in West Bengal. Non-vegetarian food is consumed behind Durga Puja pandals. Dirty food is cooked. This Navratri, the Hindus from Calcutta should wake up and expel (bahishkar) such people. Those who consume non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja cannot be called religious. They are pakhandis.”
telegraphindia.com
“We will keep registering complaints even if they are not turned into FIRs. Someone needs to protest against this person who maligned Bengal and Bengalis.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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