West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP) president Samik Bhattacharya on Monday reacted to Madhya Pradesh-based non secular chief Bageshwar Baba’s attraction for state residents to turn into vegetarians throughout Durga Puja.
“How can Bengalis not have fish and meat? Even Swami Vivekananda mentioned Ma Kali may have mutton (as an providing). It’s harmful if somebody tries to rise above Vivekananda. That is his private opinion,” Bhattacharya mentioned, with out naming the 30-year-old Dhirendra Krishna Garg, the chief priest of Bageshwar Dham and popularly known as Bageshwar Baba.
The non secular chief was in West Bengal to attend a three-day Hanumant Katha at Liluah in Howrah district. On Saturday, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari hosted a dinner for him at Soujanya, a state auditorium. The dinner was attended by Cupboard ministers and ministers of state. The CM’s workplace posted photographs of the occasion on X on Sunday, referring to the non secular chief as “Bageswar Maharaj.”
On Sunday, whereas addressing the Liluah occasion, Bageshwar Baba mentioned, “Please do not thoughts however there’s something I do not like about West Bengal. Throughout Navratri and Durga Puja non-vegetarian meals is consumed close to the pandals. All types of soiled meals are ready.”
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“I need each Hindu to get up through the coming Navratri and expel these individuals. They don’t seem to be pious. They’re sacrilegious,” he added.
The video went viral, triggering a powerful response amongst Bengali Hindus. The event passed off days after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad mentioned on August 26 that non-vegetarian meals needs to be refrained from Durga Puja pandals.
The controversy over meals habits returned to hang-out the BJP 4 months after its leaders needed to both marketing campaign with fish or eat it publicly to counter the then-ruling Trinamool Congress’s marketing campaign that Bengalis could be pressured to turn into vegetarians if the BJP got here to energy.
Bhattacharya mentioned on Monday his social gathering would by no means challenge any diktat.
“We’ve nothing to say on what individuals will eat and put on in West Bengal. Bengalis will do what they’re used to. Those that wish to put on dhoti will accomplish that. These preferring lungi will put on lungi. How can Bengalis not have fish? The factor is happening and on. Why hassle about what any person from outdoors comes right here and says?” Bhattacharya mentioned.
“There’s nothing fallacious with somebody interesting individuals to turn into vegetarian. There’s a marketing campaign on vegetarianism. Many individuals and even some docs recommend it. However how can a sadhu or a political social gathering inform you what you will eat at dwelling? He’s revered and fashionable throughout the nation. He has made an attraction,” he added.
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Posts have appeared on X and Fb, criticising Bageshwar Baba for attempting to dictate phrases to Bengali Hindus.
“West Bengal has its personal model of very assertive Hindutva. It’s the birthplace of Hindu nationalism. It is usually the seat of Shakta worship. So, Bageshwar Dham’s attraction in opposition to non-veg round Durga Puja pandals is ill-informed, unwarranted, and gained’t wash,” journalist and writer Abhijit Majumdar wrote on X.
A pretend pas additionally caught the state administration on the fallacious foot on Monday when a digital poster circulated by the Kolkata Police for the CM’s assembly with neighborhood Durga Puja organisers through the day was discovered to have a picture of Goddess Durga with 11 palms as an alternative of 10.
“The modifications BJP promised to usher in Bengal in 2026 haven’t spared even Ma Durga. The picture circulated by the federal government reveals her having an eleventh hand Hindus by no means knew about,” Kunal Ghosh, a TMC MLA from the Mamata Banerjee camp mentioned.
Bhattacharya mentioned the promoting company entrusted with getting ready the poster made an error. “The promoting company made the error. It will likely be corrected for certain,” he mentioned.
