New Delhi: A day after she faced a barrage of criticisms over her remarks on Goddess Kali, with the BJP seeking her immediate arrest, TMC MP Mohua Moitra on Wednesday said she, a worshipper of the deity, was not afraid of saffron camp “goons”.
An FIR has been registered against Moitra in Bhopal, under Section 295A of the IPC for hurting religious sentiments. “Hindu religious sentiments have been hurt by Mahua Moitra’s statement. Insult of Hindu deities will not be tolerated at any cost,” Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, according to ANI.
Asansol BJP district secretary Jiten Chatterjee also claimed that an FIR had been filed based on his complaint against Moitra.
Filing an FIR against @MahuaMoitra
Wish to seek your support!! @narendramodi @AmitShah @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @DrSukantaBJP @SuvenduWB @swamidipankar @sambitswaraj @KailashOnline @republic @IndiaToday @drnarottammisra @AjaybhattBJP4UK @aajtak @indiatvnews @SureshChavhanke @RSSorg pic.twitter.com/mSYa1gZB8J— Jiten Chatterjee™ (@JitenChatterjee) July 6, 2022
The BJP’s Mahila Morcha has claimed to submitted no fewer than 56 complaints against Moitra to the Bengal police. A section of Mahila Morcha leaders marched to Kolkata’s Bowbazar Police Station, asking for ‘action’ to be taken against Moitra within 72 hours, Anandabazar Patrika has reported. Police has allegedly promised ‘complaint numbers’ to the BJP leaders but has not yet lodged FIRs in Kolkata.
Moitra had said at an India Today Conclave that she had every right as an individual to imagine Goddess Kali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting deity, as each person had his or her unique way of offering prayers. Her remarks come at a time when Canada based-filmmaker Leena Manimekalai is facing FIRs for a poster of her documentary, Kaali, which features the filmmaker dressed as the goddess while smoking a cigarette.
Facing attacks from the BJP, Moitra also said that truth doesn’t need back up forces .
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.
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 6, 2022
“According to the norms of the Sanatan Hindu dharma, Goddess Kali is never worshipped as a goddess who consumes alcohol and meat. Hindus had been revering Goddess Kali for ages as a symbol of power against evil. Her comments have hurt religious sentiments. We demand her arrest in the light of the statement against Goddess Kali,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said hundreds of police complaints had been lodged against Moitra across the state. “The TMC government and the state police have been very active in seeking police action against Nupur Sharma. But they have not taken any action against Mahua Moitra. There can’t be a different set of rules for BJP and TMC leaders. We will wait for ten days and then move the court,” the saffron camp MLA said.
The ruling TMC has distanced itself from Moitra’s comment, stating that it does not endorse it. “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 (sic),” the party said in a Twitter post.
The TMC MP had on Tuesday evening, too, taken to Twitter after facing flak over her remarks.
“To all you sanghis – lying will NOT make you better hindus. I NEVER backed any film or poster or mentioned the word smoking. Suggest you visit my Maa Kali in Tarapith to see what food & drink is offered as bhog. Joy Ma Tara,” she had tweeted.