Dhirendra Shastri’s (right) vegetarian appeal sparks backlash as BJP’s Samik Bhattacharya defends traditional fish and meat-eating practices.
KOLKATA: West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Monday rejected self-styled godman Dhirendra Shastri’s appeal asking Bengalis to give up non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja , saying no religious figure visiting the state could dictate what people should eat or wear.
Bhattacharya said he respected Shastri as a religious figure but maintained that his personal views could not be imposed on Bengali society. But nobody coming from outside can sit in Bengal and decide who will eat what and who will wear what,” he said. Earlier reporting noted: Bhattacharya said no one could decide what people in Bengal should eat, while saying that goat meat is offered to Goddess Kali too. Swami Vivekananda has said it.
His visit also acquired political overtones as he was able to hold religious programmes across the state under the BJP government, despite allegedly facing difficulties in obtaining permission during the previous Trinamool Congress regime. “A saint or a doctor may have the right to advise people to become vegetarian. Bengalis will eat what they have been eating. Can Bengalis not eat fish and meat? Who is above him?” the Bengal BJP chied questioned.
Earlier reporting noted: “Let me live the way I want to. Earlier reporting noted: Bengal BJP chief rejects Bageshwar Baba’s ‘non-veg’ appeal: ‘No one can tell Bengalis what to eat’ West Bengal BJP unit president Samik Bhattacharya on Monday rejected self-styled preacher Dhirendra Shastri’s appeal to Bengalis to not consume non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja.
Reacting to the remarks, Bhattacharya said Bengali food habits and traditions could not be altered at the behest of someone from outside the state. Swami Vivekananda has said it. Bhattacharya said. The BJP state president pointed to the long-standing tradition of eating ‘luchi’ (puris) on Ashtami and goat meat on Navami, saying there was no question of asking people to abandon these practices, according to PTI. Nobody can tell the people of West Bengal what they should eat,” he said.
“Let me live the way I want to. Bengalis will eat what they have been eating. Can Bengalis not eat fish and meat? Who is above him? “We generally eat ‘luchi’ on Ashtami and goat meat on Navami. We will continue to do that.