CM Adhikari doubles down on Dhirendra Shastri’s comments on non-veg

Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has defended Godman Dhirendra Shastri alias Bageshwar Baba for his “pakhandi” remarks against those who eat non-vegetarian food during the Durga Pujas. Speaking during a special session in Bengal Assembly, the Chief Minister on Thursday said that what Shastri had said was well within his right as a seer advising people about their religious conduct.

He said that “a saint had come to Liluah (in Howrah) and kept his views on nationalism, culture and united India ... He had only given his view and did not impose it on anyone, but there were some people who were inciting tension and some people were seen burning his posters outside the Bhawanipore Police Station ... In this regard, I am directing the Commissioner of Police of Kolkata to arrest those persons who did the mischief.”

Adhikari’s remarks came close on the heels of protests being organised by the Congress party members in Bhawanipore area and many other places.

The Chief Minister is an MLA from Bhawanipore seat, where he defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also a resident of the area.

Adhikari’s brief statement in the House was greeted with loud applause from the BJP MLAs who had thus far remained tight-lipped on the issue. The Godman had, during a religious programme, asked the people to boycott those who eat non-vegetarian food during the Durga Pujas.

“Please do not mind but one thing I do not like about Bengal that many people here eat non-veg even during the Durga Pujas... Those who do so are Pakhandis (hypocrites)... I will request you to boycott those who eat non-veg during the Durga Pujas,” Shastri had said, triggering a statewide debate, with even State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya saying that Bengalis were free to eat whatever they eat.

“It is in our culture to offer meat to the Mother Goddess ... We eat meat during Navami ... Swami Vivekananda was a non-vegetarian.” Opposition Congress, TMC and the Left too rejected the view.