Congress activists Ashutosh Chatterjee and Pradip Prasad were summoned by the Kolkata Police on Sunday in connection with their protest against the controversial remarks made by Bageshwar Dham chief priest Dhirendra Krishna Shastri regarding the consumption of non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja.
Atanu Das, a Congress leader, filed a police case against Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba, after the party condemned his comments on Tuesday. However, the Congress leader was later detained by the police on suspicion of inciting hatred between various religious groups and hurting religious sentiments.
Congress says row not about food, but Bengali identity
“First of all, it has nothing to do with food—vegetarian or not. It concerns someone who has disparaged Bengali heritage, culture, and Durga Puja in their own country. We are absolutely clear about one thing: whether they are Chatterjee, Banerjee, Bose, Das, Jain, Agarwal, or anyone else, everyone who resides in West Bengal is Bengali. This is a state of brotherhood, and Durga Puja is for everyone,” according to reports, Congress general secretary said.
Shastri’s remarks spark protest, Congress leader arrested
On September 6, Shastri expressed his disapproval of “dirty” non-vegetarian food consumed during Durga Puja and events associated with the festival. He also said that meat should not be sold near the idol of the goddess during the festival.
Hours after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari threatened to take strong action against individuals who set fire to the religious leader’s pictures during rallies, Atanu Das was arrested.
On September 4, Adhikari and his Cabinet colleagues hosted a dinner for Shastri before he made the contentious comments at a religious gathering in Liluah, Howrah.
"Congress activists Ashutosh Chatterjee and Pradip Prasad were summoned by the Kolkata Police on Sunday in connection with their protest agai…"
