The West Bengal Congress on Tuesday filed a police complaint against Bageshwar Dham chief priest Dhirendra Shastri over remarks urging people to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja festivities. The complaint, submitted to the officer-in-charge of Kolkata’s Bhawanipore police station, alleges that Shastri’s comments were derogatory and aimed at creating disharmony. The Congress accused him of hurting Bengali sentiments and insulting the state’s culture and traditions.

The self-styled godman, known as Bageshwar Baba, had called on Bengalis to give up non-vegetarian food during the Durga Puja celebrations, describing meat-eaters as hypocrites. The Congress’ move has aligned it with the BJP, West Bengal’s ruling party, in a rare display of unity between the two national rivals. BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya had previously rejected Shastri’s call, stating that Bengalis would continue to eat what they have been eating, including fish and meat.

Bhattacharya argued that while he respects Shastri as a religious figure, the godman’s personal views should not dictate what Bengali society should eat. He quoted Swami Vivekananda to emphasize the right of individuals to choose their dietary habits. The issue has sparked a wider debate in West Bengal, where fish and meat are integral to traditional Bengali cuisine, and religious practices vary across communities and regions.

The Congress complaint also highlights concerns over the language used by Shastri, which it described as derogatory and insulting to Bengali culture. Pradip Prasad, president of the South Kolkata District Congress Committee, stated that the remarks could spark disharlicity in society and were against the democratic spirit. Congress workers also held a protest outside the police station, demanding that an FIR be registered against Shastri based on the complaint.

Other Congress leaders have filed similar complaints at police stations in north Kolkata, indicating a broader party effort to address the issue. Senior Congress leader Suman Roy Chaudhuri accused such godmen of being like the sleeper cells of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, traveling to different parts of the country to provoke people and promote what he described as North Indian culture.

The Durga Puja, celebrated with great pomp and fervour in West Bengal, is set to begin on October 16. The controversy has raised questions about the role of religious figures in dictating dietary choices during festivals. While the Congress and BJP have taken a unified stance against Shastri’s remarks, the debate continues over whether such personal views should influence communal practices. What remains unknown is the potential impact of the police complaint on the broader cultural and religious discourse in West Bengal.