Bageshwar Baba's Durga Puja meat diktat brings Congress, BJP on same page
A religious leader's call for Bengalis to abstain from non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja has sparked a rare political consensus between the Congress and BJP in West Bengal. Both parties have rejected the demand, emphasizing the cultural importance of traditional dietary habits in the region.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intersection of religious rhetoric, regional cultural identity, and political alignment in India.
NEW DELHI: The Congress' West Bengal unit on Tuesday lodged a police complaint against Bageshwar Dham head priest Dhirendra Shastri over his recent “avoid non-veg during Durga Puja” remark, asserting that the call was “intended to create disharmony.”In the complaint submitted to the officer-in-charge of Kolkata’s Bhawanipore police station, the South Kolkata District Congress Committee alleged that Shastri made “derogatory” comments during an event in Howrah on September 5.“We want to apprise you that immediate administrative action needs to be initiated, and an FIR needs to be registered with necessary arrests.
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