Kolkata, 11 September (H.S.): Political tensions in West Bengal escalated on Friday following the arrest of Congress leader Atanu Das for allegedly burning a photograph of spiritual preacher Dhirendra Krishna Shastri. Opposition parties, including the Congress, CPI(M) and a section of the Trinamool Congress, criticised the police action and questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

Das, general secretary of the South Kolkata District Congress, was arrested in connection with a protest during which a photograph of Dhirendra Krishna Shastri was allegedly set on fire. West Bengal Pradesh Congress president Shubhankar Sarkar strongly condemned the arrest, describing it as undemocratic and alleging “fascist aggression”.

CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty also criticised the action and linked it to the earlier controversy involving Jadavpur University professor Ambikesh Mahapatra, who had faced police action over the circulation of a political cartoon. Chakraborty alleged that the present state government was continuing the same political mindset.

Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh, associated with the Kalighat faction of the party, also questioned the arrest. He asked why action was not being taken against the person whose remarks were allegedly seen as hurting Bengali sentiments, while a Congress leader protesting against those remarks had been arrested.

However, a different position emerged from the Riju Dutta-led faction of the Trinamool Congress. Dutta said there was no need for Bengalis to learn how to celebrate Durga Puja from any self-styled religious figure and noted that Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s remarks had already been opposed. At the same time, he said the law would take its own course and declined to make any specific comment on behalf of the party.

The controversy stems from remarks allegedly made by Dhirendra Krishna Shastri regarding food practices during Durga Puja. Congress leaders and workers had staged a protest outside Bhawanipur Police Station and allegedly burnt his photograph in response. Following the incident, a case was registered against several Congress leaders, including Atanu Das.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey