Bengal BJP Caught In Clash Of Culture Within Over Durga Puja
During Durga Puja, the government will work to protect the culture of West Bengal and India: Reports
KOLKATA: Within four months of coming to power in West Bengal for the first time, the BJP has been caught in a fierce internal clash of culture between two factions on the Bengali traditions, which played a vital agenda of the party's Assembly Election manifesto, especially about their favourite festival: Durga Puja.
While the hardliners have been pushing through various religious faces and fronts repeatedly to impose a vegetarian food menu during the five-day grand celebration, the moderates are bravely smashing their opponents’ attempts to protect Bangaliana (Bengali vibe).
This became evident on Monday when state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya trashed self-styled godman Bageshwar Baba alias Dhirendra Shastri's diktat here last week for banning non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja this year and disapproved of the monk’s remark of Pakhandi (hypocrite).
“Bengalis eat Luchi on Asatami and Panthar Mangsho (mutton) on Navami. They will do it this time also. I don't have a wife. My parents have also left this world. Otherwise, I would have invited and hosted you with a mutton dish. If you invite me to your home, I will surely visit your house to eat along with many BJP workers,” Mr Bhattacharya told the media.
He however added, “Bageshwar Baba is from another world. He has numerous followers. He is a preacher and famous nationwide. I also went to meet him and felt good. He has a different charm. He greeted me and so did I. But he is no one to dictate what people should eat or not here although he has the liberty to make an appeal. It's not correct for anyone anyway to decide for us what to eat.”
The BJP Rajya Sabha MP pointed out, “You are talking about Bageshwar Baba so much as if he has got a top post above us in BJP and became an advisor! We have nothing to comment on what people should eat in West Bengal. Bengalis will follow their habit. Can it happen that Bengalis won't eat fish and meat? Swami Vivekananda himself supported it. Goddess Kali will be offered meat.”
He argued, “There is none above Vivekananda. But if anyone rises above him suddenly, it's dangerous. Why do you worry so much about someone from outside coming here and saying something? Should a monk or a political party decide what you eat at home? We anyway don't support someone calling others Pakhandi for being non-vegetarians.”
On September 6, Bageshwar Baba told a congregation of his followers in Howrah, “Who amongst you wants a ban on non veg food this Durga Puja? I feel pain about one thing in Bengal. Non veg and dirty food are eaten behind Durga Puja mandap here during Navratri. We want the Hindus of Kolkata to wake up and drive out such people who are seen as religious but should be labelled as Pakhandi.”
Interestingly, the godman was welcomed and hosted by chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and his cabinet for a gala dinner during his three-day visit. Mr Adhikari, who also attended the preacher's event, told him, “During Durga Puja, the government will work to protect the culture of West Bengal and India. Baba Maharaj Ji, please open a centre here. There should also be a Bageshwar Dham centre.” A week ago, Vishwa Hindu Parishad made a similar bid to ban non-vegetarian food during this Durga Puja but took a U-turn following a huge uproar.