NEW DELHI: The Congress‘ West Bengal unit on Tuesday lodged a police grievance towards Bageshwar Dham head priest Dhirendra Shastri over his latest “keep away from non-veg throughout Durga Puja” comment, asserting that the decision was “supposed to create disharmony.”Within the grievance submitted to the officer-in-charge of Kolkata’s Bhawanipore police station, the South Kolkata District Congress Committee alleged that Shastri made “derogatory” feedback throughout an occasion in Howrah on September 5.“We wish to apprise you that speedy administrative motion must be initiated, and an FIR must be registered with essential arrests. His remarks might spark disharmony in society and had been towards the democratic spirit,” Congress chief Pradip Prasad stated within the grievance, in response to PTI.The self-styled godman, popularly referred to as “Bageshwar Baba,” had appealed to Bengalis to surrender non-vegetarian meals in the course of the Durga Puja festivities and described those that eat meat on spiritual events as “hypocrites.”
Congress, BJP on similar web page
The Congress’ transfer put it on the identical web page because the BJP, West Bengal’s ruling social gathering, in a uncommon show of unity between the 2 nationwide rivals.BJP West Bengal chief Samik Bhattacharya had already rejected Shastri’s name, saying that Bengalis would “proceed to eat what they’ve been consuming.”“We usually eat ‘luchi’ on Ashtami and goat meat on Navami. We are going to proceed to do this. No one can inform the individuals of West Bengal what they need to eat,” Bhattacharya stated.“Let me dwell the way in which I wish to. Bengalis will eat what they’ve been consuming. Can Bengalis not eat fish and meat?” he requested, quoting Swami Vivekananda.
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Whereas saying that he revered Shastri as a spiritual determine, Bhattacharya argued that the self-styled godman’s private views mustn’t dictate what Bengali society ought to eat.The problem has sparked a wider debate in West Bengal, the place fish and meat are carefully related to conventional Bengali delicacies, whereas spiritual practices range throughout communities and areas.Durga Puja, celebrated with nice pomp and fervour in West Bengal, might be held from October 16-20.