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Religion
Imam threatens legal action over Pandit Dheerendra Shastri’s remarks at Ludhiana’s Shri Hanuman Katha
✍️ Amar Ujala · Punjab
🗓 29 Sep 2026, 01:37 PM
👁 5
During the ongoing Shri Hanuman Katha in Ludhiana, statements by Bageshwar Dham’s head priest Pandit Dheerendra Krishna Shastri sparked a dispute, prompting the Shahi Imam to warn of a case if the remarks are not retracted.
The Shri Hanuman Katha, a devotional programme currently being held in Ludhiana, attracted a large gathering of worshippers from the region. The event is organised by the Bageshwar Dham trust and features recitations, music and discourses on the deity.
During the session, the head priest of the Dham, Pandit Dheerendra Krishna Shastri, made remarks that were described by several attendees as hateful and inflammatory.
In response, the Shahi Imam of the city publicly condemned the statements, saying that such language cannot be tolerated in a pluralistic society. He warned that if the priest does not withdraw the comments, a legal case will be filed against him.
The exchange has heightened tensions among local religious communities, prompting calls for calm and dialogue while authorities monitor the situation.
During the session, the head priest of the Dham, Pandit Dheerendra Krishna Shastri, made remarks that were described by several attendees as hateful and inflammatory.
In response, the Shahi Imam of the city publicly condemned the statements, saying that such language cannot be tolerated in a pluralistic society. He warned that if the priest does not withdraw the comments, a legal case will be filed against him.
The exchange has heightened tensions among local religious communities, prompting calls for calm and dialogue while authorities monitor the situation.