Fresh row as Dhirendra Shastri demands written apology from Punjab’s Shahi Imamਨਵਾਂ ਵਿਵਾਦ: ਧੀਰੇਂਦਰ ਸ਼ਾਸਤਰੀ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਇਮਾਮ ਤੋਂ ਲਿਖਤੀ ਮੁਆਫ਼ੀ ਮੰਗੀ

A fresh row has erupted in the ongoing controversy between Bageshwar Dham spiritual leader Dhirendra Shastri and Punjab’s Shahi Imam, after Shastri — in a video doing the rounds — asked the Shahi Imam to apologise to him in writing, The Tribune reported.

Shahi Imam of Punjab Maulana Mohammad Usman Rehmani Ludhianvi had claimed to have put an end to the controversy over Shastri’s remarks, but the latter has again sparked a row by demanding a written apology.

In the video, Shastri says he is not against anyone but against a “conservative mindset.” He says his 2026 schedule is fully booked, but adds that if the Imam wants, he can come to Ludhiana again.

Mosque declines to prolong the issue

A spokesperson for the Jama Masjid said that going by the sequence of events, it seemed the whole episode was planned and targeted to disturb peace in Punjab, and that the mosque would not like to comment and unnecessarily prolong the issue.

What sparked the controversy

The row began during Shastri’s Shri Hanuman Katha in Ludhiana, where he raised the issues of drug abuse and religious conversion in Punjab and appealed to the Sikh community to avoid conversion. The Shahi Imam strongly objected to the remarks — including Shastri’s “Bhaiya to Saiyan” (brother-to-lover) comment — saying they hurt religious sentiments, and demanded that Shastri withdraw the remarks and apologise publicly, warning of a police complaint against him and the event organisers.

Shastri subsequently clarified that his comments were directed at religious conversion, not at Islam or Christianity, and said he did not want to face an FIR over the matter.

Why is Dhirendra Shastri demanding an apology now?

In a video circulating this week, Dhirendra Shastri asked Punjab’s Shahi Imam, Maulana Mohammad Usman Rehmani Ludhianvi, to apologise to him in writing — reversing the Shahi Imam’s earlier demand that Shastri apologise for his remarks on conversion and drug abuse during the Ludhiana Hanuman Katha.

What has the Jama Masjid said?

A Jama Masjid spokesperson said the sequence of events suggested the episode was planned to disturb peace in Punjab, and that the mosque would not comment further to avoid prolonging the issue.

What started the Shastri-Shahi Imam controversy?

Remarks by Dhirendra Shastri during his Shri Hanuman Katha in Ludhiana on drug abuse and religious conversion in Punjab, and his appeal to Sikhs to avoid conversion. The Shahi Imam called the remarks hurtful to religious sentiments and demanded a public apology; Shastri later clarified his comments targeted conversion, not any religion.