BJP leaders in West Bengal criticise spiritual leader Dhirendra Shastri after his remarks related to Durga Puja festivities. According to the reports, Shastri calls for a ban on the sale of non-vegetarian food near Durga idols during the Navaratri/Durga Puja period, and also urges Hindus in Bengal to observe Navaratri.
NDTV reports that the state BJP responds by attacking the framing of Shastri’s comments. One report focuses on the BJP’s claim that Shastri’s remarks amount to telling Bengalis what they “will eat,” while another frames BJP’s reaction as opposition to any suggestion of restricting meat or fish sales in the local festive context. The outlets describe the dispute primarily as a clash over food-related guidance during religious celebrations.
Across the coverage, the core issue is the proposed restriction on sale of non-vegetarian items near Durga idols and the subsequent political reaction from the BJP in West Bengal. While both accounts attribute the same broad position to Shastri and the BJP’s criticism to the same exchange, they differ in how explicitly the BJP characterises the remarks—using “meat” in one account and “fish, meat” in the other.
