Revision as of 15:32, 10 June 2023

YEAR-WISE DEVELOPMENTS

2023: As in Jan

Jayprakash S Naidu, Jan 24, 2023: The Indian Express

Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, also known as “Bageshwar Dham Sarkar” and “Bageshwar Baba”, claims to read people’s minds and last week politicians such as three-time Chief Minister Raman Singh of the BJP and Congress MLA Vikas Upadhyay visited him at his “durbar” in Raipur. He was even felicitated by Governor Anusuiya Uikey at the Raj Bhavan.

The 26-year-old has riled up the Bhupesh Baghel-led state government, alleging that Christian missionaries have “targeted” him for trying to stop religious conversions and for working to ensure their “ghar wapsi”. Religious conversion has emerged as one of the hot-button issues in Chhattisgarh. In recent weeks, the BJP has accused the government of turning a blind eye to “a conversion drive” to Christianity in the state. Earlier this month, Narayanpur district was rocked by violence against Christians, after which the Baghel government instructed district magistrates to use the National Security Act (NSA), if needed, to maintain communal harmony.

The godman alleged that missionaries who spend crores of rupees on conversions were targeting him. “We are stopping conversions and doing ‘ghar wapsi’ and so some among them are creating trouble for us,” he told ANI. “But all Sanatan Hindus need to teach them a lesson. Till we are alive, we will do ‘ghar wapsi’. It does not matter how many missionaries come for me I will neither budge nor fear them because we are Hindu tigers. Why are Hindus being targeted? They (Akhil Bhartiya Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti) ran their mouths against me and you (the media) came here to ask a question. Do you ask such questions to padres (priests) and maulvis (Islamic clerics)? They (activists) do not raise questions about other religions because they know it will make their lives difficult … very big missionaries are behind this who have spent crores of rupees in conversion. They are the ones who have targeted me.”

Shastri, who is from Chhattarpur in Madhya Pradesh, was referring to his run-in with the Akhil Bhartiya Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti during a visit to Nagpur, Maharashtra, earlier this month. The anti-superstition organisation, led by its national convener Professor Shyam Manav, challenged Shastri to prove his ability to perform miracles. The Samiti promised to pay him Rs 30 lakh if he succeeded to convince it. The group of rationalists complained to the police, accusing Shastri of spreading superstitions and sought action under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013. On Saturday, at a “durbar” in Gudhiyari, Raipur, Shastri was seen performing tricks for his devotees, who come to him with myriad problems, in the presence of the national media.

Responding to the godman’s comments on religious conversions, Chhattisgarh Christian Forum President Arun Pannalal said, “Shastri is trying to give Christians a communal colour. In every community, including ours, there are people doing drama like ‘Changai Sabhas (where it is claimed people are cured of their ailments)’. But our religion has nothing to do with it. Jesus never did any Changai Sabha and we do not see it as part of the religion. So, what Pandit ji (Shastri) is doing is propaganda using religion as a shield. Our Constitution talks about scientific temperament. So, when someone claims I will cure, they can be booked under the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act and other state laws for a black magic act. So, there is no need for one to complain. The government must act on its own.”

Asked about Shastri’s visit to Raipur, CM Baghel on Sunday said, “There are several accomplishments in the field of meditation (by monks) but you should not display magic. This (magic) is the work of magicians. This is not appropriate. All the sage monks have tried to stop this and have said magic should not be shown. Accomplishments are there … no doubt about it..but magic should be avoided. In Muslim communities, the ‘sants’ give amulets and magic happens. Some Christians do Changai Sabhas and do magic. Because of all this magic, inertia is created in society. it does not allow society to grow. So, it must be avoided. It is about knowledge. For example, Joshimath is ending, so if you can do magic then go save it. Will anybody accept this challenge? They (religious leaders) should teach us to lead our lives with honesty. Our culture is thousands of years old, the Mahabharata took place and attacks took place, but the culture exists till day. Nobody could end it. So those who say they have taken it upon themselves to save dharma, which they say is in danger, are actually the danger themselves.”

State Congress media chief Sushil Kumar Shukla said, “He (Shastri) is a ‘sant’. His preaching must be about respecting all religions. The religious conversion issue is a propaganda tool of the BJP. If he wants to do a ‘ghar wapsi’ campaign, then it must be within the limits of the law. As far as the conversion allegations of the BJP are concerned, CM Bhupesh Baghel has made it clear that an FIR will be registered and appropriate action will be taken if any complaints about religious conversions are received.”

May: Bihar

Santosh Singh, May 17, 2023: The Indian Express

Three days after he landed in Patna trailed by rising popularity and feted by the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, ‘Baba Bageshwar’ Dhirendra Shastri finally elicited a response from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The Mahagathbandhan leaders had avoided taking note of Shastri, who started a five-day religious sermons session, “Hanuman Katha”, on May 13. However, on Tuesday, the Baba proclaimed that “India would be on its way to becoming a Hindu Rashtra when even 5 crore of the 13 crore people of Bihar apply tilak and go on a march”.

With BJP leaders making a beeline for Shastri’s event since he landed, Nitish hit back, saying that the country has a Constitution and no one can “change the name of our nation”. RJD state president Jagdanand Singh demanded that the Nitish government, of which the party is a part, arrest Shastri in the same manner as BJP leader L K Advani was arrested during his rath yatra. RJD supremo and then CM Lalu Prasad was instrumental in Advani’s arrest.

Shastri, the “peethadhish” of ‘Baba Bageshwar Dham’ in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, and a self-styled godman, has been drawing huge crowds at his Hanuman Katha, being held on the outskirts of Patna.

Said to be around 26 years of age, Shastri claims his “power” is the ability to deduce a person’s problem is by just looking at them. He was virtually unknown before he was challenged by the anti-superstition organisation founded by Narendra Dabholkar (who was killed by Hindu right-wing activists) in December last year over his “miracles”. Shastri had dodged an invite from the organisation to prove his claims.

In MP, Shastri has acquired political legitimacy, with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan a regular presence at his events. Shastri is reportedly going to head next to poll-bound Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh as part of his sermons tour.

At one such session, he said: “Aisa lagta hai ki mera sankalp Bihar se hi poora hoga. Aaj ek sankalp lekar ghar jaana. Jis din Bihar rajya ke 13 crore logon mein se 5 cr bhi ghar se tilak lagakar niklenge, usi din Bharat Hindu rashtra ki aur agrasar ho jayega (It looks that my resolve for a Hindu Rashtra would be fulfilled from the land of Bihar. Leave home today with a resolve – the day even five crore of Bihar’s 13 crore population walk out of their homes applying tilak, India would be on course to becoming a Hindu Rashtra).”

In his reply, the Bihar CM said: “We respect all religions. People are free to practise their religion. But the one who is talking (about Hindu Rashtra) born when the country was named? Even I was born after Independence.”

Nitish added that in a multi-religious country like India, every faith is respected. “Kisi ko interfere nahin… Koi kuchh bol raha hai to apni marzi se bol raha hai (There should be no interference by others… If anyone is saying anything otherwise, they are speaking for themselves),” he said.

BJP state president Samrat Choudhary, while dodging questions regarding Shastri’s Hindu Rashtra statement, said: “Those who have faith in Sanatan dharma will attend Baba Dhirendra Shastri’s durbar… I am surprised at the JD(U)’s sense of religion. The party has been conducting mutton rice feasts to woo voters.”

On the RJD, Choudhary said the party that had “threatened to oppose” Shastri is doing it precisely to appease Muslims. Among the BJP leaders who have dropped in for Shastri’s sessions, or were present to welcome him in Patna, were Union ministers Giriraj Singh, Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Ram Kripal Yadav, BJP state president Samrat Choudhary and BJP leader of Opposition in Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari drove Shastri to the Patna hotel where he is staying.

No Opposition leader though has so far turned up at Shastri’s “Hanumant katha”, despite invites being sent to both Nitish and Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

The organisers have dismissed this, saying people have been told not to crowd the venue due to the heat. In the initial three days, an estimated two lakh people gathered at Shashtri’s function.

RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav was the first to oppose Shastri, warning him against stoking Hindu-Muslim divide at his Patna event before he landed.

However, Tej Pratap has been silent since Shastri arrived.