In a controversy that has triggered protests, activists associated with the Azad Samaj Party and the Bhim Army were reported to have burnt photographs of Bageshwar Dham's head priest, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, also known as Baba Bageshwar, and thrown slippers at them.
The outrage followed remarks made by Shastri during a Ram Katha in Karera, in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district, where he appeared to contrast Lord Ram and Lord Krishna, describing the former as straight and the latter as crooked.
बड़ी खबर 🚨 मध्यप्रदेश के भोपाल में आजाद समाज पार्टी व भीम आर्मी के कार्यकर्ताओं ने बागेश्वर धाम के बाबा वीरेंद्र शास्त्री उर्फ धीरेंद्र कृष्ण गर्ग की तस्वीरें जलाईं और उसपर जमकर चप्पल बरसाईं 👇🏻 भगवान कृष्ण को लेकर दिये गये विवादित बयान के बाद देशभर में उनके खिलाफ गुस्सा है।। https://t.co/uBpNwbyY3M
— Priyanshu Kumar (@priyanshu__63) November 3, 2026
He said, “Your Thakurji seems to be looking around in every photo. Even when he stands, he is crooked in three places. His feet are crossed, his waist is bent somewhere, and then, with his neck bent, he plays the flute.”
He contrasted this with Lord Ram, saying, “Ours stands absolutely straight. His name is straight, he looks straight and walks straight. Yours is crooked, he looks crooked and walks crooked.”
He also commented on Lord Krishna's flute-playing, saying, “Playing the flute is a sport, but using the bow is no sport. The flute played by your Thakurji is no big deal. There's a man on stage playing the flute as well.”
भाजपा के इशारे पर धीरेंद्र शास्त्री ने ऐसा बयान दिया है प्रधानमंत्री जी इसी ड्रामेबाज धीरेन्द्र शास्त्री के यहां पहुंचे थे और इसे संत बताया था ये धीरेंद्र शास्त्री भाजपा के इशारे पर अक्सर विवादित बयानबाजी करता है और अक्सर भाजपा का चुनाव प्रचार करता है अब इस धीरेंद्र शास्त्री ने भगवान राम और भगवान कृष्ण में भेद कर दिया है भगवान कृष्ण के बारे में अनर्गल टिप्पणियां ये धीरेंद्र शास्त्री भाजपा के इशारे पर कर रहा है जिससे भाजपा को चुनावी लाभ राम जी के नाम पर मिल जाए और जो भगवान राम का चढ़ावा चंदा भाजपा ने चुराया है वो बात दब जाए भाजपा का धर्म सनातन विरोधी चेहरा सामने आ चुका है, भाजपा के ये कारिंदे जो अब तक समाज में हिंदू मुसलमान के नाम का जहर बेच रहे थे वे अब भगवान में भेद का जहर बेचना शुरू कर दिए हैं धर्म और ईश्वरीय सत्ता का ऐसा नाश और ह्रास पहले की किसी सरकार में नहीं हुआ जितना भाजपा सरकार में हुआ है और ये बेहद शर्मनाक, निर्लज्जतापूर्ण तथा एक आपराधिक कृत्य है भाजपा और भाजपाई संघी इस मानसिकता, गलतबयानी और शर्मनाक सोच के जिम्मेदार हैं
— Samajwadi Party Media Cell (@mediacellsp) November 2, 2026
The remarks triggered objections from Krishna devotees and religious figures associated with the Mathura-Vrindavan and Braj traditions. Shastri subsequently apologised, saying his comments had been taken out of context and that he had not intended to hurt anyone's religious sentiments or create a distinction between Lord Ram and Lord Krishna.
He explained that the remarks were made while interpreting a devotional verse and described himself as a devotee of Lord Krishna and the Braj tradition.
Who is this Baba?
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri is the head priest of Bageshwar Dham, a religious centre in Garha village in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district. He became widely known through his Divya Darbars, where he claims to identify people's problems and personal details without being told.
His claimed abilities have attracted scrutiny from rationalists. In 2023, Maharashtra-based rationalist Shyam Manav challenged Shastri to demonstrate his alleged powers under controlled conditions in Nagpur. Manav offered a reward of ₹30 lakh if Shastri could correctly identify details of people selected for the test. Shastri did not accept the challenge and left Nagpur before completing his scheduled programme.
His personal wealth and fees for religious discourses have also been discussed in media reports. Some reports have estimated his net worth at around ₹19.5 crore and his fees at between ₹1 lakh and ₹1.5 lakh for a katha. However, these figures are not independently audited or officially verified, and estimates vary.
Other controversies
In September 2026, Shastri triggered another controversy during an event in West Bengal when he urged Hindus to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja and called for meat not to be sold near Durga idols. His remarks drew criticism from political leaders and sections of Bengali society, where fish and meat form part of longstanding food and festival traditions.
During a rapid-fire interview on ABP News, Shastri was also asked about Asaram Bapu, who was convicted in 2018 of raping a minor and sentenced to life imprisonment. Shastri's reported response was, “Everyone is okay in their place ....., Everyone is okay,” which, unfortunately for our country, did not receive enough outrage.
His brother's criminal cases
In another incident involving his family, Shastri's younger brother, Shaligram Garg, was booked in a firing and assault case in July 2026 in Chhatarpur district. The case followed a dispute between two groups in Koda village, under the Rajnagar police station limits. The complainant alleged that Garg and others assaulted him and opened fire. Garg was arrested in connection with the case and was later granted bail by the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Sept 2026.
Garg had also been booked in February 2023 under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after an incident at a Dalit wedding, where he was accused of threatening members of the family while carrying a firearm. He was subsequently arrested and granted bail.
Shastri had said that he had no connection with his brother or his family and that the law should take its course. But in an Instagram post made by Garg on oct 10, Shastri can be seen with Garg amid a huge crowd, raising questions as to whether the distancing was more of a symbolic gesture to not claim responsibility.
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