Bengal BJP Chief Dismisses Bageshwar Baba's Call for Meat Ban During Durga Puja
West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya rejected Dhirendra Shastri's appeal for a meat ban near Durga idols, defending Bengali food culture.
A call by Bageshwar Dham head priest Dhirendra Shastri to ban the sale of non-vegetarian food near Durga Puja pandals in West Bengal has triggered a sharp political reaction, with the state BJP distancing itself from the remarks.
During a religious discourse in Howrah on Sunday, Shastri, also known as Bageshwar Baba, appealed for meat and liquor shops to remain closed during the festival. He asked the crowd to signal support for the ban by switching on mobile phone lights, saying the message needed to reach the state government. He described those who consume non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja as impious.
The comments drew immediate criticism from political leaders and residents, with many on social media viewing them as an attack on Bengal's cultural and dietary traditions.
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya responded firmly, stating that Shastri comes from "another world" and has no authority to dictate what Bengalis eat. "Bengalis will eat fish and meat," he said, citing Swami Vivekananda's support for the practice. He added that while the party respects Shastri, his comments should not concern the people of Bengal.
Opposition leaders also condemned the appeal. Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy questioned the priest's relevance to the state's traditions, asserting that puja committees will follow their own customs. West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Suman Roy Chowdhury said no "BJP Baba" can decide what Bengalis eat during the festival.
Shastri, who was previously denied permission to hold events in West Bengal under the previous administration, was recently welcomed by the BJP government. His latest remarks have now placed the party in a defensive position over cultural identity and food habits in the state.