West Bengal leaders defend traditional fish offerings amid religious dietary row

Political leaders in West Bengal are navigating a controversy regarding religious dietary practices following comments by Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Krishna Shastri. Shastri recently urged Hindus in Bengal to avoid non-vegetarian food during Navratri and Durga Puja.

In response, BJP leaders including Keya Ghosh and Dilip Ghosh have defended the tradition of consuming fish as part of religious offerings in the region. They highlighted that Suvendu Adhikari participated in the traditional bhog at Kalighat temple, which includes fish, noting that dietary customs vary by deity, occasion, and local culture. Ghosh stated that religious practices and personal preferences should be left to individual choice.

The controversy has also drawn criticism from the Congress party. Leader Manash Sarkar filed a police complaint against Shastri, alleging his remarks regarding Bengali identity and food practices could cause social disharmony. Congress has accused the BJP of using the issue for electoral advantage.