Bengal Congress moves police against Bageshwar Baba over Durga Puja meat remarks

West Bengal Congress leaders on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) lodged a police complaint against Bageshwar Dham chief priest Dhirendra Shastri over his recent remarks urging people in the State to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja festivities. The complaint was filed at the Bhawanipur police station in Kolkata, where Congress workers also held a protest demanding the registration of an FIR against Mr. Shastri.

The complaint, filed by Pradip Prasad, president of the South Kolkata District Congress Committee, described Mr. Shastri's statements as "vile" and an insult to Bengali culture. "He has uttered vile sentences and preached what to eat and what not to eat during the Durga Puja in our State, which is a prestigious festival and puja," the complaint said. It also stated that all people who speak the language and belong to the State are Bengalees or Bangalis, and there is no such division in matters of food.

Congress workers raised slogans outside the police station and demanded action. Separate complaints were filed at the Muchipara police station in north Kolkata, and party leaders said similar complaints have been lodged across all districts of West Bengal. The development marks the latest escalation in a political row triggered by Mr. Shastri's remarks at an event in Howrah a few days ago.

At that event, Mr. Shastri had appealed to the public to send a message to the State government to keep fish and meat shops shut during Durga Puja. Referring to non-vegetarian food cooked near pandals during the festival, he said: "I am offended by the fact that during Navratri and Durga Puja they make 'dirty' food (non-veg) behind the pandals." He described those who consume such food as "not religious" and called them pakhandis, or hypocrites.

Senior Congress leader Suman Roy Chaudhuri rejected the remarks, saying that Bengali culture, lifestyle, eating habits, and religious practices cannot be dictated by a godman. He further alleged that such religious figures act "like the sleeper cells of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh," travelling across the country to provoke people and impose what he termed North Indian culture. These remarks underscore the political sensitivities around dietary practices and regional identity in West Bengal.

The State's BJP leadership, for its part, sought to downplay the controversy. Opposition leaders, however, have intensified their attack on Mr. Shastri and the BJP, linking the comments to a broader agenda of cultural imposition.

Durga Puja is the most significant festival in West Bengal, celebrated with elaborate pandals and public festivities. Food is an integral part of the celebration, and fish, in particular, is a staple in Bengali cuisine. Public remarks on dietary choices often provoke strong reactions in the State, where cultural identity is closely tied to culinary traditions. The Congress's complaint seeks legal action against Mr. Shastri, though the police are yet to decide on an FIR.

The controversy reflects an ongoing national debate over food, faith, and culture, with religious figures occasionally drawing criticism for statements that affect regional sentiments. In West Bengal, where such comments have historically stirred political friction, the police complaint adds a new layer to the confrontation. As the festival season approaches, the matter is likely to remain a flashpoint between the ruling and opposition parties.