Bengal CM Adhikari vows to jail cow, saint insulters at Kolkata Gita event
Synopsis
Bengal's BJP CM Suvendu Adhikari used a mass Bhagavad Gita recitation at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium — attended by 11,000 people — to declare that his government will jail those who insult saints and protect cows, amid ongoing religious controversies over Durga Puja remarks. A ten-lakh-voice Gita recitation is already planned for 29 December.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari pledged on 27 September 2026 to jail those who insult saints or sadhus in the state.
He declared the BJP -led Bengal government would protect 'gaumata' (the cow) as a core policy commitment.
The remarks were made at a Bhagavad Gita recital organised by Bangur Jagaran Mancha at Netaji Indoor Stadium, Kolkata , attended by 11,000 people.
The statements follow political controversies in Bengal over religious remarks about Bengali eating habits during Durga Puja .
A mass Gita recitation by ten lakh voices is planned in Kolkata on 29 December .
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday, 27 September 2026, declared that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government would protect 'gaumata' (the cow) and would imprison anyone who insults sadhus or saints. The remarks were made at a Bhagavad Gita recital event organised by Bangur Jagaran Mancha at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, where 11,000 people recited the Gita in unison.
Key Declarations by the Chief Minister
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Adhikari drew a sharp cultural and political line for his administration. 'The government of tika, sikha, dhoti, tulsi has arrived. The BJP government to protect gaumata is here. The government would imprison those who insult monks. Insult against saints and gurus will not be tolerated here,' he said.
He further encouraged the audience to freely practise and promote their faith. 'Recite and distribute the Bhagavad Gita, distribute Hanuman Chalisa without any hesitation. Chant Hare Krishna mantras, blow conches; there is nothing to be scared of. The winds have changed,' Adhikari told the crowd.
Political Context Behind the Remarks
The statements come amid an ongoing political controversy in West Bengal over religious remarks by certain saints concerning the eating habits of Bengalis during the Durga Puja festival. Adhikari's comments are widely seen as a direct response to those controversies, with the Chief Minister asserting that no such insult to religious figures would go unpunished under his government.
This is part of a broader pattern of the BJP government in Bengal aligning itself closely with Sanatani cultural messaging since assuming office — a significant ideological shift from the preceding political dispensation.
Warning Against Divisive Forces
Adhikari also urged the audience to remain united against what he called anti-national elements. 'We all have to remain united and alert against the tukde tukde gang who raise Kashmir maange azadi slogans,' he said, invoking a phrase frequently used by BJP leaders to describe forces they accuse of seeking to fragment the country.
Speaking in a personal rather than purely official capacity, he told the gathering: 'I am not here as the Chief Minister of West Bengal. I am here as a Sanatani, as a child of Mata Bharati, and I have come to sit here among you.'
Upcoming Mass Gita Recitation Planned
The Chief Minister also announced a major follow-up event: a mass Bhagavad Gita recitation by ten lakh voices is planned in Kolkata on 29 December. If realised at scale, the event would be one of the largest such religious gatherings in the state's recent history.
With these announcements, the Bengal government has signalled that religious and cultural protection will remain central to its political identity in the months ahead.
Point of View
Raising the question of whether Bengal's social fabric can absorb that idiom without fresh communal friction. Notably, the remarks arrive in the immediate shadow of Durga Puja controversies — timing that is unlikely to be coincidental. The announcement of a ten-lakh-strong Gita recitation in December suggests the party is building a sustained religious-mobilisation calendar, not just reacting to a single controversy.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announce at the Kolkata Gita event?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on 27 September 2026 that the BJP-led West Bengal government would protect 'gaumata' (the cow) and would imprison anyone who insults saints or sadhus in the state. He made these remarks at a Bhagavad Gita recital at Netaji Indoor Stadium attended by 11,000 people.
Why did Adhikari make these remarks about protecting saints?
The statements come amid political controversy in West Bengal over religious remarks by certain saints about the eating habits of Bengalis during Durga Puja. Adhikari's declaration appears to be a direct response, signalling that his government will not tolerate what it regards as insults to religious figures.
What is the mass Bhagavad Gita recitation event planned for December?
Chief Minister Adhikari announced that a historic Bhagavad Gita recitation by ten lakh voices is being organised in Kolkata on 29 December. The event is intended as a large-scale public expression of Sanatani faith, significantly larger than the 11,000-strong recitation held on 27 September.
What did Adhikari say about 'divisive forces' at the event?
Adhikari urged the gathering to remain united and alert against what he called the 'tukde tukde gang' — a phrase BJP leaders use for those they accuse of raising anti-national slogans such as 'Kashmir maange azadi'. He called on the crowd to stay vigilant against such forces.
What is the significance of Adhikari's 'Sanatani government' framing?
By describing his administration as 'the government of tika, sikha, dhoti, tulsi,' Adhikari is explicitly positioning the BJP-led Bengal government as a defender of Hindu cultural and religious traditions. This represents a marked ideological shift from the state's previous political character and mirrors the party's strategy in other states.
