New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mohua Mitra on Tuesday waded into the row over insult to Goddess Kaali and stoked further controversy by making claims, which are bound to receive criticism by Hindutva groups.
“Kaali to me, is a meat-eating, alcohol-accepting goddess. You have the freedom to imagine your goddess,” said the TMC MP in conversation with a news channel.
Toronto-based filmmaker Leena Manimekalai has already landed up in soup over the poster of her documentary film ‘Kaali’ which shows Hindu goddess smoking a cigarette. Two FIRs have been filed against her in Delhi and UP for hurting the religious sentiments.
The TMC MP, when asked about the controversy over movie poster showing Goddess Kaali smoking a cigarette, she said that one should have the freedom to imagine & visualize the God that you worship.
TMC Lok Sabha MP @MahuaMoitra on Kaali controversy: There are different versions of Kaali. For me Kaali is a meat loving, alcohol accepting god. I have no problem with people’s different interpretations
Watch LIVE: https://t.co/M9ofE5X7fH#ConclaveEast22| @KDscribe pic.twitter.com/VTEdpe03V2— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) July 5, 2022
Further defending her notion of Goddess Kaali, she said that the nature of worshiping God depends on the customs & rituals being practiced there.
“When you go to Sikkim, you will see that whiskey is offered to Goddess Kali. But if you will go to UP and you tell them that you offer whiskey to the goddess as ‘prasad’, this will be called blasphemous,” said Moitra.
The poster of upcoming documentary film by Leena Manimekalai has touched a raw nerve as several people have taken strong exception over blatant insult to Hindu goddess.
The controversy broke out after the filmmaker shared the poster of movie from her social media account. In the post, woman dressed as Goddess Kaali could be seen smoking a cigarette in the photo. The actor playing the goddess can also be seen wielding the LGBTQ+ community’s pride flag.