Full Breakdown
Congress Protest Over Bageshwar Baba’s Durga Puja Remarks Sparks Police Action in West Bengal
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Background & Context
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, head priest of Bageshwar Dham, addressed a crowd in Liluah, Howrah on September 5, urging Bengalis not to cook or sell fish and meat during Durga Puja and calling non-vegetarians “hypocrites.” The remarks were seen as an attack on Bengali cultural practices and prompted protests organized by the West Bengal Congress.
Core Event: Photo-Burning Protest and Police Response
On September 8, Congress activists demonstrated outside Bhawanipur police station in south Kolkata. Police said participants trampled, struck with footwear and burned a photograph of Shastri. The same day, South Kolkata district Congress general secretary Atanu Das was arrested on charges of promoting religious hatred. Ashutosh Chatterjee, state Congress general secretary, and Pradip Prasad, South Kolkata district Congress president, were later named as accused.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari intervened on September 10, directing Kolkata police to arrest anyone involved in burning Shastri’s photograph, stating that such activities would not be tolerated.
Timeline
- September 5 – Shastri’s “non-veg” appeal.
- September 8 – Protest and alleged photo burning.
- September 10 – CM orders arrests.
- September 13, 2026 – Ashutosh Chatterjee appears before police after being summoned.
Key Figures & Groups
- Dhirendra Krishna Shastri – Head priest whose remarks sparked the controversy.
- Suvendu Adhikari – Chief Minister of West Bengal.
- Ashutosh Chatterjee – West Bengal Congress general secretary.
- Atanu Das – South Kolkata district Congress general secretary, arrested.
- Pradip Prasad – South Kolkata district Congress president, named as accused.
- Subhankar Sarkar – West Bengal Congress president.
- Samik Bhattacharya – BJP state president.
Data & Statistics
- One Congress leader (Atanu Das) was arrested; two additional Congress officials (Chatterjee and Prasad) were named as accused.
Official Statements & Responses
- CM Adhikari directed the police commissioner to act against the protesters.
- Congress leaders framed the incident as an insult to Bengali culture and demanded the FIR copy, which they said had not been provided.
Criticism & Opposition
- Congress officials condemned the chief minister’s order as politically motivated.
- The chief minister described the protestors’ actions as threatening public order.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Ashutosh Chatterjee said he had not received a copy of the FIR despite filing a complaint. Police confirm an FIR was registered, but its contents remain undisclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The first thing is that it is not about food, vegetarian or non-vegetarian. It is about a person who has insulted Bengali culture, heritage, and Durga Puja in its own land. We are very straight on one thing: those who stay in West Bengal are all Bengalis, be it Chatterjee, Banerjee, Bose, Das, Jain, Agarwal, or anybody else. This is a state of brotherhood and Durga Puja is for everyone,” — Ashutosh Chatterjee
- “A saint had recently visited our state and spoke in his own way about the ideals of patriotism, nationalism, united nationhood and this country's tradition and culture. Those who want to accept them can do it, while others are at liberty to reject them. He did not impose anything on anyone. But I saw a few people burning his portraits before the Bhabanipur PS,” — CM Adhikari
What’s Next
The chief minister linked the controversy to the two-seat Assembly by-polls scheduled for October 6, indicating the issue will feature in the upcoming political contest.