Government Plane Scandal: BJP Defends Cop's Gesture as 'Personal Faith'

Image Source: Internet

A viral video has sparked controversy after it emerged that spiritual preacher Dhirendra Shastri, head of Bageshwar Dham, was given a special welcome in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, by a police officer who saluted him and then touched his feet. The officer was seen removing his cap and shoes before the gesture, which was caught on camera. The incident has raised questions about the use of a government plane for Shastri's travel and the conduct of the uniformed officer. Shastri arrived in Raipur on December 25 and was accompanied by Chhattisgarh Minister Guru Khushwant Saheb. He was scheduled to attend a religious discourse in Bhilai town. The Congress has criticized the use of a government plane for Shastri's visit, calling it a 'misuse of public money' and 'wastage of public funds'. However, the BJP has defended the officer's gesture, saying it was an act of 'personal faith'. Chhattisgarh Congress communication department head Sushil Anand Shukla accused Shastri of acting against the country's composite culture and claimed that he was neither a recognized religious head nor a 'peethadhishwar'. However, Chhattisgarh BJP chief spokesperson Santosh Pandey said that the officer's gesture was not something to be objected to, comparing it to Muslim railway employees and airport staff offering namaz at railway stations and airports. The controversy has reignited debates about the role of religion in public life and the use of government resources for private events.