West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya has rejected self-styled preacher Dhirendra Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba's appeal to Bengalis to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja.
Bhattacharya said that nobody could decide what people in West Bengal should eat, adding that Bengalis would continue to follow their traditional food habits. "Nobody can tell the people of West Bengal what they should eat," Bhattacharya said, according to PTI.
He also questioned how Bengalis could be expected to stop eating fish and meat, pointing out that goat meat is also offered to Goddess Kali.
"Let me live the way I 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?" the Bengal BJP chief said.
What did Bageshwar Baba say?
The controversy began after Bageshwar Baba, during a religious programme in Liluah, Howrah, urged people to avoid non-vegetarian food during Navratri and Durga Puja.
He criticised the consumption of non-vegetarian food near Durga Puja pandals and described those who consumed it during the festive season as "pakhandi".
"I want every Hindu to wake up during the coming Navratri and expel those people. They are not pious. They are sacrilegious," he said.
His comments triggered a strong reaction among Bengali Hindus, with the video of his remarks going viral on social media.
'Nobody from outside can decide'
Bhattacharya said he respected Shastri as a religious figure but made it clear that his personal views could not be imposed on the people of Bengal.
The Bengal BJP chief said that while a saint or a doctor could advise people to become vegetarian, "nobody coming from outside can sit in Bengal and decide who will eat what and who will wear what."
"We have nothing to say on what people will eat and wear in West Bengal. Bengalis will do what they are used to. Those who want to wear dhoti will do so. Those preferring lungi will wear lungi. How can Bengalis not have fish?" he said.
The remarks come days after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad had also said that non-vegetarian food should be kept away from Durga Puja pandals.
The controversy over food habits has also become politically sensitive in West Bengal, with the BJP previously facing criticism that it could impose vegetarianism on Bengalis if it came to power.
