A viral video has triggered a political row in Chhattisgarh, showing Dhirendra Shastri, the head of Bageshwar Dham, travelling in a government aircraft and being greeted by an on-duty police officer who is seen touching his feet.
The visuals have sparked sharp reactions from the opposition parties and a war of words between the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Opposition parties are raising questions over the Bageshwar Baba using state resources and the conduct of government officials, which escalated into a heated political debate.
What Bageshwar Baba’s Viral Video Shows?
The viral video, which has been widely shared on social media, shows Dhirendra Shastri arriving in Raipur on Thursday along with state minister Guru Khushwant Saheb, ahead of a religious discourse in Bhilai town of Durg district.
He is Dhirendra Garg, who is actually a BJP–RSS worker, but he claims to be a religious preacher who can foresee the future.
He is using Chhattisgarh government’s aircraft to attend his programme in the state. The Chattisgarh BJP government is providing this aircraft to him… pic.twitter.com/AEKyYmuXzi
— Mohit Chauhan (@mohitlaws) December 26, 2025
As they step off the aircraft, a uniformed police officer is seen first saluting the minister and then removing his cap and shoes before bending down to touch the preacher’s feet.
The visuals quickly triggered backlash, with critics raising questions over the conduct of the police officer as well as the use of a government aircraft to transport a religious figure.
Social Media Reactions
One user commented, “Dhirendra Shastri holds no constitutional post—no minister, no MP. So why a Chhattisgarh govt aircraft? This isn’t faith; it’s misuse of state power.”
Second user commented, “Using a government aircraft for a private religious program while ignoring soldiers’ requests shows gross misuse of public resources and negligence in national security.”
Another user commented, “Using taxpayers’ money to promote a private religious figure violates constitutional values and secularism.”
Congress Flags ‘Misuse’ of Govt Aircraft in Shastri Visit
Congress launched a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing the ruling party of misusing state machinery and public funds for political and religious optics.
Chhattisgarh Congress communication department chief Sushil Anand Shukla alleged that deploying a government aircraft to ferry Shastri amounted to a “waste of public funds” and a “misuse of the state exchequer.” he questioned the constitutional basis under which the aircraft was arranged and sought an official explanation from the government.
Manisha Chauhan is a passionate journalist with 3 years of experience in the media industry, covering everything from trending entertainment buzz and celebrity spotlights to thought-provoking book reviews and practical health tips. Known for blending fresh perspectives with reader-friendly writing, she creates content that informs, entertains, and inspires. When she’s not chasing the next viral story, you’ll find her diving into a good book or exploring new wellness trends.
