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Written By: Ravi Bhoi| The News Dose
Raipur: A political controversy has erupted in Chhattisgarh after a video surfaced showing Dhirendra Shastri, the head of Bageshwar Dham, arriving in Raipur in a government aircraft, followed by an on-duty police officer touching his feet. The Congress has alleged “misuse of public money” and violation of service conduct. At the same time, the BJP has dismissed the criticism, calling the act an expression of personal faith and accusing the Opposition of hostility toward Sanatana Dharma.
Shastri, accompanied by state minister Guru Khushwant Saheb, landed in Raipur on Thursday ahead of a religious discourse in Bhilai, Durg district. The video, which quickly went viral on social media, shows the preacher and the minister stepping off the aircraft. The uniformed police officer is first seen saluting the minister, then removing his cap and shoes, and finally touching Shastri’s feet.
As the clip gained traction, it triggered sharp reactions online, with critics questioning both the use of a state aircraft for a religious preacher and the conduct of a uniformed officer. Several users termed the episode a “mockery of uniform ethics” and alleged that taxpayers’ money was misused. Others, however, defended the officer, arguing that he followed constitutional protocol by saluting the minister and later expressing his personal religious belief.
The Congress launched a frontal attack on the BJP-led government over the issue. Sushil Anand Shukla, head of the Chhattisgarh Congress communication department, said arranging a government aircraft for Shastri amounted to “wastage of public money” and “misuse of the state exchequer”.
He demanded an official clarification, asking under what constitutional authority the aircraft was provided. Shukla further claimed that Shastri was neither a recognised religious head nor a peethadhishwar of any established shrine or ashram, and accused him of acting against India’s composite cultural ethos.
Alleging that Shastri spreads social discord, Shukla said such conduct was contrary to the inclusive values of Sanatana Dharma. Invoking Lord Hanuman, he told the deity symbolises love, tolerance, bravery and forgiveness, and those invoking his name should embody these values. “Superstition and hypocrisy cannot survive for long,” he added.
The BJP hit back strongly, rejecting the allegations. State BJP chief spokesperson and MP Santosh Pandey said there should be no objection to a police officer paying obeisance to a religious guru out of personal belief.
“Don’t railway and airport staff offer namaz at stations and airports? Why does it upset Congress when a police officer bows to a guru as an expression of faith?” Pandey asked.
On the use of the government aircraft, he countered by asking the Congress to explain instances during its own tenure when, he alleged, tantriks were allowed to use government helicopters and planes. Pandey also accused the Congress of being “consistently opposed to Sanatana Dharma”, citing remarks by leaders such as M. K. Stalin and Priyank Kharge.
“Opposition to Sanatan is in the Congress’s blood,” he claimed. With political tempers rising, the episode has reopened a broader debate on the separation of state resources and religious activity, the conduct expected of uniformed personnel, and the thin line between personal faith and official protocol.
