Fake ‘miracle business’ will collapse:Anti-superstition crusader blasts Dhirendra Shastri; dham chief hits back – ‘come to darbar’

The controversy surrounding Dhirendra Krishna Shastri of Bageshwar Dham’s ‘Divine Court’ and his claims has heated up once again. The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, completely rejecting the Baba’s miracles, has now increased the challenge amount directly from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 80 lakh.
The committee says that this fight is not against the Ramkatha, but against those claims being made in the guise of religion that do not stand up to the test of logic. Committee convener Shyam Manav had proposed the Nagpur Press Club venue for this challenge before Dhirendra Shastri, but the Baba has clearly stated that whoever wants to test him should come to the court. Now that Dhirendra Shastri has returned from Nagpur, Shyam Manav says that Shastri has failed to accept the challenge twice in a row and has fled once again. Bhaskar spoke with Anti-Superstition Eradication Committee convener Shyam Manav to understand why he is raising questions about the Baba’s court. New Form of Challenge: Science’s Rules Will Apply, Not Baba’s The committee had made it clear that this time the contest will not be held in Baba’s ‘divine court’, but at the ‘Patrakar Bhavan’ (Press Club) in Nagpur. The committee’s reasoning behind this is that in Baba’s own court, there could be many secret methods of gathering information, which are difficult to control. Challenge Conditions Still Remain 1. Neutral Ground: This test can only be conducted at Patrakar Bhavan in Nagpur. 2. Strict Monitoring: A panel committee will be formed, which will include Baba’s consent as well. During the test, mobile phones of Baba and other people present there will be sealed. 3. 90% Accuracy Scale: 10 unknown persons will be suddenly brought before Baba. He will have to tell the names of those persons, their father’s name, surname and mobile number. Additionally, he will have to identify 10 objects kept nearby using his ‘divine vision’. 4. Double Test: If Baba succeeds the first time, then after 5 days the same process will be repeated again with new people. Only if 90 percent correct results are obtained both times will he be given the reward of 80 lakhs. 44 Years of Reputation versus ‘Babagiri’ Committee convener Shyam Manav, adopting a very aggressive stance, said, “We have been saying for the past 44 years that there is no divine power in this world.
If Dhirendra Shastri proves himself, then I will bow at his feet, shut down my organization and become his devotee.” The committee gave an interesting example comparing Baba’s claims with modern technology. They said that in today’s era, facial recognition technology at airports does similar work.
Without looking at any papers, one can get information about a person’s name, passport and booking details. ‘Maharaj is running away from the challenge’ The committee also states that Dhirendra Shastri will never accept this challenge. The committee alleges that the Baba plants his own people in his court and extracts their information in 5 minutes through photos or other means.
The committee questioned that when big people like the Chief Minister of Maharashtra bow down before him, what was the Baba afraid of? It has been alleged that both Maharaj and the committee know that he does not possess any divine powers. They are merely exploiting superstition to deceive people.
According to the committee, “He knew that if he participated in this impartial challenge, his ‘Babagiri’ business would shut down. That is why he has once again fled from this challenge.” Shyam Manav had given a challenge three years ago as well In January 2023, Dhirendra Shastri had gone to Nagpur for Katha Vachana (religious discourse). At that time too, Shyam Manav had challenged him.
The challenge was that Dhirendra Shastri should publicly provide accurate information about 10 people – such as name, phone number and personal details.
These 10 people should be chosen by Shyam Manav, not by Baba’s team. He had said that if Shastri could prove this, he would give him 30 lakh rupees. Dhirendra Shastri accepted the challenge He accepted the challenge and said that whoever has an ‘itch’, come to the court. Whatever knowledge and power we have, we will present it. We are not magicians. Whatever inspiration God gives us, we will guide people accordingly.