Akhilesh Yadav Slams Dhirendra Shastri Over 'Blasphemous' Remarks
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav demands action against Bageshwar Dham's Dhirendra Shastri for alleged insults to Lord Ram and Krishna.
The political atmosphere in Uttar Pradesh has heated up as Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, the head priest of Bageshwar Dham. Yadav has accused the preacher of making blasphemous remarks that insult the legacies of Lord Krishna and Lord Ram, sparking a fresh confrontation between the SP and the influential spiritual leader.
Allegations of Insulting Deities
The core of the controversy lies in comments allegedly made by Dhirendra Krishna Shastri regarding the divine forms of the deities. Akhilesh Yadav claimed that Shastri showed a lack of respect toward both the 'Yaduvanshi' and 'Raghuvanshi' communities. Specifically, the SP chief alleged that the preacher made disrespectful comparisons between Lord Krishna's iconic 'tribhanga' posture and flute and the persona of Lord Ram.
Yadav maintained that such comments are not merely opinions but are derogatory acts that hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees.
Legal Action and Proposed Bans
The Samajwadi Party has not stopped at verbal criticism. In a move to ensure accountability, SP workers have approached the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow to file a formal police complaint. The party is demanding that a First Information Report (FIR) be registered against the Bageshwar Dham priest.
Taking the demand a step further, Akhilesh Yadav proposed a drastic measure to protect the sanctity of religious regions. He suggested that anyone accused of blasphemy should be barred from entering the holy lands of Braj and Awadh. To enforce this, he proposed the installation of official signage at the Uttar Pradesh-Madhya Pradesh border, explicitly banning individuals who make derogatory statements against deities from entering the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Political Firefighting and the 2027 Vision
While the row with Shastri took center stage, Akhilesh Yadav also used the platform to address the broader political landscape of the state. He touched upon the upcoming events in Kunda, Pratapgarh, organized by Raghuraj Pratap Singh (popularly known as Raja Bhaiyya) from November 17 to 20.
The SP chief did not mince words when targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), pointing toward internal friction and infighting within the party in Gorakhpur. He dismissed the current political rhetoric of his opponents as narrow-minded and negative.
The Road to 2027
Looking toward the 2027 Assembly elections, Yadav framed the upcoming vote as a pivotal battle for the survival of democracy. He urged his party cadre to remain vigilant and keep a close watch on voter lists to prevent any discrepancies.
Asserting that the BJP's influence is waning following recent electoral losses, Yadav claimed that the electorate is shifting its preference. He argued that the public now favors leaders who focus on tangible development and infrastructure—citing the distribution of laptops as an example—rather than those who govern through intimidation.