Dhirendra Shastri on Bengal politicians' radar for 'Pakhandi', 'Ganda Khana' comment

Kolkata: A major controversy erupted over recent comments by Bageshwar Dham head priest Dhirendra Shastri, popularly known as Baba Bageshwar, who referred to Bengalis as "pakhandis" (religious hypocrites) for eating non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja and described non-vegetarian food as "ganda khana (dirty food)".

West Bengal Congress on Tuesday lodged a police complaint at Bhawanipur police station against Shastri, demanding immediate intervention and action against him for hurting the sentiments of Bengalis.

In the complaint, 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," committee's president Pradip Prasad said in the complaint. He pointed out that Bengalis were insulted and that Shastri's speech could spark "disharmony" in society and was against the democratic spirit.

In his complaint, Prasad wrote, "Those who speak the language and belong to our state are all Bengalis as there is no such division. He (Baba) has uttered vile sentences and preached what to eat and what not to eat during the Durga Puja in our state, which is a prestigious festival and puja. Likewise, he has also used words like 'ganda ganda food' including 'Pakhandi'..."

North Kolkata Congress committee president Tarak Pal also lodged a police complaint at Nimtala police station on the same issue on Tuesday evening.

BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said, "Let us live the way we want to. Bengalis will eat what they have been eating. Can Bengalis not eat fish and meat? Swami Vivekananda has said it. Who is above him?"

A monk will not dictate what Bengalis should eat during Durga Puja, and Bengalis traditionally eat mutton on Navami, Bhattacharya said. "Here, goat meat is offered as an offering to Maa Kali," he said, adding that "eating 'luchi' (puris) on Ashtami and goat meat on Navami has been part of Bengal's cultural tradition and there is no question of asking people to shun it."

BJP state minister Dilip Ghosh said Bengal has a tradition of goat sacrifice during Durga Puja and that the meat is consumed as prasad. "Eating goat meat here is not a matter of controversy. People will eat what they want during Durga Puja."