Image source, ANI
There has been a controversy over a comment by Hindu religious leader Dhirendra Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba among his followers. Dhirendra Shastri had given this statement while comparing Lord Ram and Krishna during a program in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh.
There is a lot of debate in social media on what Dhirendra Krishna Garg (also known as Dhirendra Shastri) said in one of his programs.
Many people are criticizing his statement. Now many leaders have also entered this controversy.
Leaders of many parties including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, independent MP Pappu Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi and Congress have objected to his statement. He has also demanded action against Dhirendra Shastri.
However, some leaders of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and NDA constituents have defended Shastri.
Seeing the growing controversy, Dhirendra Shastri has also given clarification regarding his statement.
End
What did Akhilesh Yadav and Pappu Yadav say?
Samajwadi Party chief and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav said, "Why are Sanatani silent? A Baba is insulting. First he insulted Lord Krishna. Now it is being heard what they are saying about Lord Shri Ram's father. After all, where have the bulldozers of Sanatani people gone? If they have bulldozers, then bulldozers should be sent to the Chief Minister of the neighboring state. After all, what is the government doing?"
In a post on X, he demanded, "For the crime of disturbing social harmony, all their programs should be cancelled. Now true Sanatani will write their slip."
After Dhirendra Shastri's statement, lawyers in Rae Bareli also raised slogans in front of the District Magistrate's office.
The lawyers say, "We are not going to tolerate this statement. They are working as agents of BJP. Our demand is that the District Magistrate should file an FIR against them and strict action should be taken against them."
At the same time, Pappu Yadav, MP from Purnia, Bihar, reached Sansad Marg police station in Delhi demanding registration of FIR against Dhirendra Shastri.
Special stories selected for you by Nitin Srivastava
Learn more
Pappu Yadav said, "His (Dhirendra Shastri) conduct has been questionable from the beginning. People with questionable conduct have always been promoted by the RSS and BJP. I have also said earlier that there should be a strict law for the right given to babas to tell stories. There should be a model code of conduct for speaking on religion, which should be under the law."
Pappu Yadav alleged, "Earlier they used to divide religion. Now efforts are being made to create separate religions in religion too. They have been sponsored by politicians and a party. They had given a sermon on October 29 and also shared a three-minute video themselves on Monday."
On Dhirendra Shastri's statement, former Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote on Instagram, "How can this be right? Now this theologian is making a comparison between Lord Ram and Lord Krishna? Why is there silence from the party which has promoted him?"
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput said, "One day the truth of all the Babas and religious leaders supported by BJP will come to light. The one who talks about dividing Ram and Krishna cannot be a religious person. Every section of the society should condemn it."
Dhirendra Shastri's clarification
Image source, @snshriraj
However, amid growing controversy over his statement, Dhirendra Shastri has given clarification.
Dhirendra Shastri said, "I had emotionally rebuked Shri Thakur ji (Krishna), but many people interpreted it as mean. We did not want to differentiate between Lord Ram and Lord Krishna by rebuking them. I myself am a devotee of Krishna. If anyone gets hurt, we apologize. We did not try to divide God.
In response to Akhilesh Yadav's statement on Dhirendra Shastri, Uttar Pradesh government minister OP Rajbhar said, "What does he (Akhilesh) care about Krishna? He should go to Mathura to have darshan of Lord Krishna, he is not going. He only speaks on Twitter and in press conferences."
Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesperson Shriraj Nair has reacted after the controversial statement of Dhirendra Shastri and his criticism from Akhilesh Yadav.
He said, "Vishva Hindu Parishad clearly believes that every Hindu is a 'Hindu'. Be it any religion, sect, sect, way of worship or living in any geographical area. Akhilesh Yadav is an electoral Hindu. He sings the song of Hindu only at the time of elections."
Have been in controversies before also
Even in the month of September, a complaint was given in Bhawanipur police station of Kolkata demanding registration of FIR against Bageshwar Baba.
South Kolkata District Congress Committee President Pradeep Prasad had said in his complaint, "He (Dhirendra Shastri) has called Bengalis 'hypocrites' for eating meat during Durga Puja. We condemn Bageshwar Baba's ill-informed statement and he should apologize to the people of West Bengal."
At that time, Dhirendra Shastri had appealed to Hindus to eat vegetarian food during Durga Puja in Liluah of Howrah district.
Opposition parties had alleged that the BJP government of the state was insulting the culture of Bengal.
After the controversy, West Bengal BJP state unit president Samik Bhattacharya had rejected Dhirendra Shastri's appeal without taking his name.
Dhirendra Shastri is the priest of Bageshwar Dham located in Gadha village of Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. In the year 2022, his name came into the headlines for the first time after allegations of spreading superstition during a program in Nagpur.
Published by Collective Newsroom for the BBC.
Download the new BBC World Service app
Choose BBC News Hindi and get news alerts, live TV, podcasts... all in one place
Please note: The new app is not available in the UK and US.
short video
end of short video
