Cong MP backs TMC's Mahua Moitra over 'Kali' remark; TMC, BJP condemn
Jul 06, 2022
New Delhi [India], July 6 : Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday came out in support of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra over her comments on Goddess Kali stating "our forms of worship vary widely across the country."
He also urged people to "lighten up and leave religion to individuals to practice privately."
In a series of tweets today, Tharoor wrote, "I am no stranger to malicious manufactured controversy, but am still taken aback by the attack on @MahuaMoitra for saying what every Hindu knows, that our forms of worship vary widely across the country. What devotees offer as bhog says more about them than about the goddess."
"We have reached a stage where no one can say anything publicly about any aspect of religion without someone claiming to be offended. It's obvious that @MahuaMoitra wasn't trying to offend anyone. I urge every1 to lighten up&leave religion to individuals to practice privately," he tweeted.
However, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has condemned party MP Mahua Moitra's remarks on Goddess Kali where she called the Hindu deity a "meat-eating, alcohol-accepting goddess".
#IndiaTodayConclaveEast2022 and her views expressed on Goddess Kali have been made in her personal capacity and are NOT ENDORSED BY THE PARTY in ANY MANNER OR FORM. All India Trinamool Congress strongly condemns such comments," the tweet put out by the official handle of TMC read.
However, the BJP, facing flak over its now-suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma's comment on Prophet Muhammad, was quick to launch an attack on the TMC.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla tweeted that "mere Twitter condemnation won't do".
Mahua Moitra has been booked for allegedly hurting religious sentiments after her comment on Goddess Kali stirred a controversy.
An FIR has been registered in Bhopal against Moitra under section 295A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for hurting religious sentiments.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Hindu religious sentiments have been hurt by Moitra's statement and that insult to Hindu deities will not be tolerated at any cost.
Reacting to the complaints against her by the BJP leaders, the TMC MP said: "Bring it on BJP! Am a Kali worshipper. I am not afraid of anything. Not your ignoramuses. Not your goons. Not your police. And most certainly not your trolls. Truth doesn't need back up forces."
Soon after she made those remarks on Kali, the TMC distanced itself saying the comments were made in her personal capacity.
In a tweet, the TMC said the comments made by Mahua Moitra and her views expressed on Goddess Kali have been made in her personal capacity "and are NOT ENDORSED BY THE PARTY in ANY MANNER OR FORM". "All India Trinamool Congress strongly condemns such comments," the party tweeted.
Moitra's remarks came after a controversy erupted over a poster of filmmaker Leena Manimekalai's documentary 'Kaali'. The poster of the film depicted a woman dressed in a costume portraying the goddess and smoking. A flag of the LGBT community is seen in the background.
