Row over remarks on Goddess Kali: MP Mahua Moitra unfollows TMC’s Twitter handle

The TMC on Tuesday had condemned the remarks made by Moitra on Goddess Kali during a media event here earlier in the day. The party distanced itself from Moitra’s remarks and said they were made by the MP in “her personal capacity” and were “not endorsed by the party”.

The party tweeted, “The comments made by @MahuaMoitra at the #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 comments made by @MahuaMoitra at the #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.

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 5, 2022

Moitra made the remarks while responding to a question on the controversy over a film poster showing a woman dressed as Goddess Kali smoking a cigarette. Canada-based filmmaker Leena Manimekalai has come under fire after the poster of her film surfaced on social media, with police complaints being filed against her in Delhi and Lucknow on Tuesday.

After widespread criticism on social media, Moitra said later on Tuesday that she “did not back any film or poster or mention the word smoking”.

The BJP, meanwhile, demanded her arrest and gave an ultimatum to the West Bengal police. “I will give the state police 10 days to file an FIR and arrest her. If that does not happen, then I will move the court on the 11th day against Moitra. The TMC must take action against her just like action was taken against Nupur Sharma,” Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition in the state Assembly, said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, members of the BJP’s Mahila Morcha staged a protest outside Bowbazar police station on Wednesday morning, demanding Moitra’s arrest, and denounced her comments.

Obvious Mahua Moitra wasn’t trying to offend anyone: Shashi Tharoor

Reacting to the row, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted on Wednesday, “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 (one) to lighten up&leave religion to individuals to practice privately. (sic)”

2/2 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.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 6, 2022

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