Addressing a large gathering on the final day of the five-day religious event held from December 25 to 29, Shastri said practices such as holding a religious darbar are often labelled as superstition, while acts like offering chadar or lighting candles are widely accepted as expressions of faith. He asked why parameters of belief differ across religions and traditions.
Responding to criticism over his travel to Chhattisgarh in a government aircraft, Shastri defended himself, saying the responsibility lay with those who facilitated the travel. “People question how a saint can travel by plane. But those who loot the country move freely. A person working to awaken Sanatan Dharma, build hospitals, help addicts and arrange marriages for poor girls is questioned for using an aircraft,” he remarked, drawing applause from the audience.
Shastri also referred to incidents involving devotees, including a man who reportedly came in front of his vehicle seeking blessings for marriage and a woman who allegedly harmed herself to meet him. He urged followers not to take extreme steps, saying such actions could land others in legal trouble.
On the issue of religious conversion, Shastri alleged that vulnerable Hindus were being lured into changing faith through inducements and deception. He also defended a recent incident where a police officer removed his cap to greet him, stating that a uniform does not erase personal faith.
Meanwhile, former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, speaking to reporters in Bilaspur on the same day, renewed his attack on Shastri and another religious preacher Pradeep Mishra. Baghel said both should stop collecting donations if they wished to preach. He questioned the alleged use of government resources for religious figures and accused Shastri of making repeated controversial remarks, including against journalists.
Baghel maintained that Chhattisgarh has several respected saints rooted in scripture and spirituality, and challenged Shastri to engage in open theological debate instead of what he termed publicity-driven sermons.
The episode has once again brought religion, politics and the use of public resources into sharp focus, with reactions continuing to pour in from across the state.
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