Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who courted controversy over her remarks on goddess Kali, appears to have received little support from her own party, while Congress leader Shashi Tharoor backed her, asking people to "lighten up and leave religion to individuals to practice privately."
Moitra had on Tuesday sparked a controversy at a media conclave by saying that she had every right as an individual to imagine the deity as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess, as each person has his or her unique way of offering prayers.
The TMC distanced itself from the controversy with party MP Saugata Roy saying the party does not approve the remarks made by Moitra. "As far as TMC is concerned, the party doesn't approve the poster for the film 'Kaali', it's unacceptable to us. We also don't approve of Mahua Moitra's statements on the matter. It's our party's official position. Our party is secular, it respects all religions," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
As far as FIRs are concerned, it's on Moitra to take care of that, he said. The TMC leader was, however, critical of the BJP's stance over the issue saying, "Until BJP takes action on Nupur Sharma for her comments against prophet Muhammad, they have no right to speak about anything else."
The BJP severely criticised Moitra and asked if it was the official stand of the TMC to insult Hindu gods and goddesses. An FIR has been registered against Moitra in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday over her remarks. "Moitra's statement has hurt religious feelings of Hindus. We will not tolerate disrespect to any Hindu Gods and Goddesses at any cost," said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Distancing itself from the remarks made by its minister, the TMC, in a tweet on Tuesday evening, said, “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.”
Meanwhile, TMC sources said Moitra unfollowed the party's official Twitter handle. She, however, still follows West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the micro-blogging site.
Coming to the defence of Moitra, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said he is no stranger to malicious manufactured controversy, but is still "taken aback by the attack" on the TMC MP 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 said in a series of tweets.
—With PTI inputs
