Kolkata Police intensified legal action against West Bengal Congress leaders on Sunday. Investigators issued formal summons to several senior party functionaries for staging protests against self-styled preacher Dhirendra Krishna Shastri. The action followed demonstrations where party workers burned photographs of the religious figure, widely known as Bageshwar Baba. The police notices come amid sharp political friction over controversial remarks on Durga Puja food customs, according to The Indian Express.
The investigation focuses on a public demonstration held in central Kolkata earlier this week. Senior police officers directed the summoned leaders to report for questioning at designated police stations. Investigators want to examine who organized the assembly without prior police permissions. Furthermore, detectives are reviewing street camera footage to identify other political workers present at the demonstration.
Summons Follow Earlier Arrest of Party Functionary
The latest summons follow the high-profile arrest of another key Congress leader on Friday. Kolkata Police arrested South Kolkata District Congress leader Atanu Das for organizing the initial agitation. Officers booked Das under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to inciting public discord and unlawful assembly. A local court subsequently remanded him to judicial custody, as confirmed by The Hindu.
Now, the police net has expanded to include state-level leadership. West Bengal Pradesh Congress committee general secretary Ashutosh Chatterjee confirmed that officers served him a formal appearance notice. Police asked Chatterjee to present his statement regarding his presence at the protest site. However, the senior politician maintained that party workers exercised their constitutional right to peaceful demonstration.
The Controversy Over Festival Food Traditions
The street confrontations stem from controversial statements attributed to Dhirendra Shastri during his recent tour. The preacher allegedly criticized the traditional consumption of non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja celebrations in Bengal. Bengali households and community pujas traditionally prepare fish and meat dishes on festive days like Navami. Consequently, his comments triggered widespread emotional and cultural resentment across the state.
Several regional organizations accused the preacher of insulting centuries-old Bengali heritage. Congress leaders organized counter-demonstrations to defend local culinary customs and religious pluralism. Protesters chanted slogans demanding a public apology from the spiritual speaker. During the demonstration, some agitators set fire to printed posters displaying Shastri’s portrait, according to The Pioneer.
Sharp Political Reactions Across Bengal
The incident quickly ignited fierce political sparring between opposing political parties in Bengal. Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party strongly condemned the burning of the spiritual leader’s photograph. They accused the Congress of hurting the sentiments of millions of Hindu devotees across the country. Opposition leaders demanded exemplary criminal action against all participants involved in the street agitation.
Meanwhile, the ruling Trinamool Congress maintained a cautious distance from the demonstration. However, government representatives stated that maintaining law and order remains paramount. Civic authorities noted that inflammatory protests could provoke communal tension ahead of major festivals. Therefore, police leadership directed field officers to enforce strict compliance with assembly regulations.
Congress Cries Foul Over Democratic Suppression
Congress leadership reacted angrily to the police summons, describing the action as blatant political intimidation. State party spokespersons argued that police administration acted with selective bias. They pointed out that authorities ignored offensive statements made against Bengali cultural customs. Instead, police personnel chose to penalize political workers who raised peaceful objections.
Party legal representatives are preparing anticipatory bail applications for the summoned leaders. They argued that burning paper posters does not constitute a non-bailable criminal offense. Furthermore, Congress leaders affirmed that administrative intimidation would not silence their defense of Bengali heritage. The party announced plans to raise the police crackdown during upcoming civil society forums.
Police Maintain Vigil Ahead of Festive Season
Kolkata Police reiterated that officers must prevent any communal disharmony during the festive season. The city is preparing for the massive Durga Puja festival later this month. Security agencies cannot allow unregulated street clashes to disrupt civic preparations. Consequently, police checkpoints have increased across sensitive commercial intersections.
Senior officers confirmed that investigators will record the statements of the summoned politicians early this week. Detectives will determine whether the demonstration involved pre-planned criminal intent to breach public peace. Meanwhile, political parties continue to trade sharp accusations over the delicate intersection of religious speech, culture, and political protest.
Curated news reports, in-depth analysis, and special features by India’s Opinion editorial team.
