A political controversy has erupted in Chhattisgarh following the viral circulation of a video showing religious preacher and Bageshwar Dham head Dhirendra Shastri arriving in the state on a government aircraft. The footage, which also captured a uniformed police officer touching Shastri's feet, has triggered accusations of public fund misuse and a breach of official protocol from the opposition Congress party.
Congress Alleges Misuse of State Exchequer
On Saturday, Sushil Anand Shukla, the head of the Chhattisgarh Congress communication department, launched a sharp attack on the state's BJP government. He alleged that arranging the government aircraft for Shastri's travel constituted a "wastage of public money" and a clear "misuse of the state exchequer." Shukla demanded an official clarification, questioning under what constitutional provision the aircraft was made available to the preacher.
The controversial video shows Shastri alighting from the aircraft at Raipur airport alongside state minister Guru Khushwant Saheb. A significant point of contention is the sight of an on-duty police officer who first salutes the minister, then removes his cap and shoes before proceeding to touch Shastri's feet. Shastri had arrived in Chhattisgarh to attend a religious discourse in Bhilai town, located in the Durg district.
Shukla further intensified his criticism by stating that Dhirendra Shastri is neither a recognised religious head nor a peethadhishwar of any established shrine or ashram. He accused the preacher of acting "against the country’s composite culture" and promoting social discord, which he claimed runs contrary to the inclusive values of Sanatan Dharma. Invoking Lord Hanuman, Shukla said true devotion should embody love, tolerance, and bravery, adding that "superstition and hypocrisy cannot survive for long."
Online Debate and BJP's Strong Defence
The incident quickly spilled over onto social media, sparking a heated national debate. Many users online criticised the alleged use of a taxpayer-funded government aircraft for a religious figure and labelled the police officer's gesture as a "mockery of uniform ethics." However, others defended the officer's actions, arguing that he followed protocol by saluting the minister and was merely expressing personal faith afterward.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly came to the defence of both the government's decision and the police officer. State BJP chief spokesperson and MP Santosh Pandey stated there should be no objection to a police officer offering obeisance to a religious guru out of personal belief. "Don't (Muslim) railway employees and airport staff offer namaz at railway stations and airports? Why does it upset the Congress when a police officer bows to a guru out of personal faith?" he questioned.
Countering the allegations about the state aircraft, Pandey retorted by asking the Congress to explain similar instances during its own tenure when government helicopters and planes were allegedly used by religious figures. He accused the Congress party of being "against Sanatan Dharma," citing past remarks by opposition leaders that he deemed derogatory to the faith.
A Microcosm of Larger Political and Cultural Tensions
This incident in Chhattisgarh has transcended a simple debate over resource allocation. It has become a flashpoint in the ongoing political and cultural discourse in India, highlighting deep-seated tensions around the following issues:
- The separation of state and religious functions: The core allegation revolves around the appropriate use of government resources for non-official, religious purposes.
- Conduct of public servants: The video raises questions about the boundaries between an officer's official duties and personal religious expressions while in uniform.
- Political narratives: Both parties have used the event to reinforce their broader narratives—the Congress on governance and secularism, and the BJP on religious expression and alleged minority appeasement.
As of now, the Chhattisgarh government has not issued an official statement detailing the reasons for providing the aircraft. The controversy continues to simmer, reflecting the complex interplay of politics, religion, and public administration in contemporary India.
