Row Over Dhirendra Shastri’s State Plane Visit

New Delhi, December 27, 2025: A political storm has erupted in Chhattisgarh after a viral video showed Bageshwar Dham head, Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, arriving at the Raipur airport in a government-owned aircraft. The controversy intensified as the footage captured an on-duty police officer removing his shoes and cap to touch the spiritual leader’s feet, sparking a heated debate over the “mockery of the uniform” and the alleged “misuse of public funds.”

The Incident: Duty Meets Devotion

On Thursday, December 25, 2024, Dhirendra Shastri landed at Raipur airport to attend a religious discourse in Bhilai. He was accompanied by Chhattisgarh State Minister Guru Khushwant Saheb.

The viral clip shows a sequence of events that has polarized social media:

1. As Shastri and the Minister alighted from the state aircraft, an on-duty police officer—identified as Inspector Manish Tiwari—first saluted the Minister in accordance with protocol.
2. Immediately after, the officer removed his police cap and shoes.
3. He then bowed down to touch the feet of Dhirendra Shastri, seeking blessings while still in his official uniform.

Immediate Repercussions

Following the public outcry, senior police officials took swift action. Inspector Manish Tiwari, who was the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Mana Basti police station, has been line-attached (removed from active field duty) for violating the dignity and neutrality required of a uniformed officer on duty.

Political War of Words

The incident has triggered a sharp exchange between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress party.

1. Congress: “Wastage of Public Money”

The Congress communication department head, Sushil Anand Shukla, slammed the state government, questioning the constitutional authority under which a state aircraft was provided to a private spiritual figure.

“This is a blatant misuse of the state exchequer and the hard-earned money of taxpayers. Shastri is not a constitutional head, yet he is being given state-guest treatment,” Shukla stated.

2. BJP: “A Matter of Personal Faith”

The BJP has defended the officer, framing the act as an expression of personal devotion. State BJP spokesperson Santosh Pandey countered the Congress’s claims by accusing them of being “anti-Sanatana.

Public & Ethical Debate

Beyond politics, the incident has raised significant questions regarding “Uniform Ethics.”

• Critics argue that the police uniform represents the secular authority of the state, and performing religious acts while in uniform compromises the perceived neutrality of the force.
• Supporters of the officer argue that his personal beliefs do not hinder his professional capability and that the salute to the Minister showed he maintained protocol before his personal gesture.

Conclusion

As the debate continues, Dhirendra Shastri remains in the state for his scheduled events, where he has already addressed thousands of followers. While the government maintains that the aircraft was used within administrative discretion, the image of a uniformed officer at the feet of a “Godman” remains a flashpoint for a larger conversation on the separation of state and religion in India.