Bengal Congress general secretary Ashutosh Chatterjee appeared before Kolkata Police on Sunday after being summoned in connection with the alleged burning of a photograph of Bageshwar Dham head priest Dhirendra Krishna Shastri during a protest in south Kolkata.
The case relates to a September 8 demonstration outside Bhawanipur police station over remarks Shastri made about Bengalis, Bengal’s culture and food practices during Durga Puja. Police said a photograph of Shastri was allegedly trampled upon, struck with footwear and burnt during the protest.
South Kolkata district Congress general secretary Atanu Das has been arrested in the case. Chatterjee and South Kolkata district Congress chief Pradip Prasad have also been named as accused, according to the report. Chatterjee was served a notice by Bhawanipur police around 10am on Sunday directing him to appear before the investigating officer at 3pm.
After leaving the police station, Chatterjee described the police action as “vendetta politics”. He alleged that the action was intended to target those protesting against comments by religious figures who, he said, sought to influence Bengalis’ traditional food practices and customs. Chatterjee also said he had full faith in the judiciary and would follow the law.
The police action followed a direction by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on September 10 to arrest those involved in burning Shastri’s photograph. The chief minister said such activities would not be tolerated. The development has brought a political dispute over cultural and religious speech into a criminal investigation involving a public demonstration outside a police station.
The police summons also triggered a confrontation between Congress workers and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha activists outside the station. The two groups shouted slogans at each other. BJYM activists accused the Congress of failing to raise issues involving alleged atrocities against Hindus, while Congress members alleged that the ruling party was supporting religious figures whose comments hurt the sentiments of Bengali Hindus.
The controversy began after Shastri addressed a programme in Howrah on September 5. He appealed to Bengalis to give up non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja and described people who ate meat on religious occasions as “hypocrites”. The Congress had earlier lodged a complaint at Bhawanipur police station seeking action against him over the remarks.
Chatterjee said the Congress would not bow before anyone who demeaned Bengalis or Bengal’s traditions. He also questioned why no action had been taken against Shastri over the comments that triggered the dispute. The investigation is continuing, with the accused leaders required to respond to the police notice and the case proceeding through the legal process.
