FIR Against TMC MP Mahua Moitra In Madhya Pradesh Over Goddess Kali Remark

Mahua Moitra said at an event that she had every right as an individual to imagine Goddess Kali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra

Source : Getty Images

An FIR was registered by Madhya Pradesh Police against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra for allegedly hurting religious sentiments over her remark on Goddess Kali, PTI reported. The case was registered by the crime branch in Bhopal under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code that deals with hurting religious sentiments.

The development comes a day after Moitra said at an event that she had every right as an individual to imagine Goddess Kali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess. 

The Krishnanagar MP made the remarks when she was asked about a documentary, 'Kaali', by a Madurai-born filmmaker. The documentary created a row over its poster showing Goddess Kali smoking and holding an LGBTQ flag.

Speaking at an India Today event, Moitra said, "If you go to Bhutan or Sikkim, for example, when they do puja, they give whisky to their god. Now, if you go to Uttar Pradesh and say that you give whisky to your god as prasad, they will say that is blasphemous."

"For me, Goddess Kali is a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess. And if you go to Tarapith (a major Shakti peeth in West Bengal), you will see sadhus smoking. That is the version of Kali people worship (there). I, within Hinduism, being a Kali worshipper, have the right to imagine Kali in that way; that is my freedom," she said.

Moitra, in a stinging tweet against BJP, said she was not afraid of the party or its goons. "Bring it on BJP! I 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 backup forces," Moitra tweeted.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Hindu religious sentiments were hurt by Mahua Moitra's statement. "Insult of Hindu deities will not be tolerated at any cost," ANI quoted Chouhan as saying.

On Wednesday, the Bengal BJP leadership sought Moitra's arrest and said it would move the court alleging police inaction if no measure was initiated against her in 10 days.

"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," PTI quoted BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar as saying.

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," Adhikari said.

The ruling TMC has distanced itself from the comment and condemned it.

"The comments made by Mahua Moitra 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," TMC tweeted.