Bageshwar Baba’s Food Remarks Spark Bengal Row

A police complaint has been lodged in Kolkata against Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Shastri over his remarks asking Bengalis to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja. The comments have triggered a political row in West Bengal, with the BJP distancing itself from the remarks.

The complaint was filed at Bhowanipore Police Station on Tuesday by South Kolkata District Congress president Pradip Prasad. He accused Shastri of hurting the sentiments of Bengalis and Durga Puja and sought an FIR and immediate administrative action.

Shastri made the controversial remarks at an event in Liluah on Sunday. Referring to people who eat fish and meat during Durga Puja, he described them as “pakhandis” and urged Kolkata’s Hindus to boycott those who consume non-vegetarian food during the festival. The remarks drew criticism from Bengal BJP leaders. State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said no outsider could decide what Bengalis should eat, while asserting that fish and meat are part of Bengal’s cultural traditions.

BJP leader Dilip Ghosh also played down the controversy, saying saints may advocate vegetarian food from their own perspective but people should be free to choose what they eat. He pointed to Bengal’s tradition of goat sacrifice during Durga Puja and said eating goat meat is not controversial in the state.

Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul also said food habits cannot be dictated to Bengalis and argued that traditions differ across states. The controversy has meanwhile intensified ahead of Durga Puja, with political leaders highlighting Bengal’s long-standing food and cultural traditions.