Congress seeks FIR against Dhirendra Shastri for asking Hindus to avoid non-veg during Durga Puja

The Congress’ West Bengal unit on Tuesday filed police complaints against Dhirendra Shastri, the head of the Bageshwar Dham temple, after he asked Hindus in the state to avoid eating non-vegetarian food during the Durga Puja festival and at pandals in the state, PTI reported.

Speaking at an event in Kolkata on Sunday, Shastri said he does not like it when “dirty” non-vegetarian food is eaten during Durga Puja and at gatherings linked to the festivities.

In one of the complaints filed against him in Kolkata, the Congress accused Shastri of “hurting the sentiments” of Bengalis and insulting the state’s culture and traditions, The Telegraph reported.

Complaints have been filed against Shastri in all districts of West Bengal, PTI quoted unidentified Congress leaders as saying.

Seeking the registration of a first information report against Shastri, Pradip Prasad, the Congress’ South Kolkata district unit chief, said that his remarks could spark “disharmony in the society, including division, which is against the democratic and peaceful spirit”, The Telegraph reported.

Prasad alleged that Shastri had made “vile” remarks about what people should eat during the festival and described the language he used as being “derogatory and insulting to Bengali culture”, PTI reported

Shastri had said on Sunday that those who eat meat during Durga Puja “cannot be considered religious”. Meat must not be sold near...

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