CPM, BJP slam Bageshwar Dham chief over non-vegetarian food remarks during Durga Puja

West Bengal political parties have condemned remarks by Bageshwar Dham Peethadhishwar Dhirendra Krishna Shastri urging Bengalis to abstain from non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja celebrations. CPI(M) leader and advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya criticized the spiritual leader, saying outsiders from different parts of India should not interfere with West Bengal's cultural practices. He noted that Bengal's culture is ancient, deep, and modern.

Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya also rejected Shastri's appeal, stating that no external religious guru can dictate what residents of the state eat or wear. Bhattacharya emphasized that consuming 'luchi' (puri) on Ashtami and goat meat on Navami are longstanding cultural traditions of Bengal and cannot be abandoned based on external pressure.