By Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Muslim and Christian leaders in Punjab have accused the controversial Hindu preacher Dhirendra Krishna Shastri of hurting their religious sentiments by making baseless remarks about religious conversion.
Shastri, the head priest of Bageshwar Dham, a pilgrimage site in Madhya Pradesh, is accused of making derogatory remarks about Muslims and Christians during his three-day religious discourse, which concluded on Sept. 30 in Ludhiana.
Shastri reportedly said that two issues needed to be addressed in Punjab: drug abuse and religious conversion.
Speaking about the latter, he addressed the Sikh community and said that people who follow the Guru Granth Sahib should not be influenced to convert to another religion. He also said he would stand with Sikh people against religious conversion and that conversions would not be allowed in Punjab.
During the address, Shastri made a remark referring to turning a “bhaiya” into a “saiyan”, after which the controversy intensified.
Punjab’s Shahi Imam, Muhammad Usman Rahmani Ludhianvi, strongly criticised the remarks and called an emergency meeting of Muslim leaders.
“The language used was hateful and unacceptable. Religious leaders have a responsibility to promote brotherhood, peace, and mutual respect among people,” he said.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.