Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday unfollowed the Trinamool Congress (TMC), a day after the party distanced itself from its remarks about Goddess Kali during a TV news show. Moitra, 47, now only follows party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Moitra had courted controversy on Tuesday by describing Goddess Kali as a non-vegetarian and a goddess who accepts alcohol. He said that every person has the right to worship God and Goddess in his own way.
“If you go to Bhutan or Sikkim, for example, when they worship, they give whiskey to their god. Now, if you go to Uttar Pradesh and say you give whiskey as a prasad to your god If we give, they will say it is blasphemy,” she said at the India Today Conclave East.
“For me, Goddess Kali is a meat eater and a wine-accepter. And if you visit Tarapith (a major Shakti Peeth in West Bengal’s Birbhum district), you will see sadhus smoking. This is what Kali people worship. (I, within Hinduism, being a worshiper of Kali, I have a right to imagine Kali in this way, that is my freedom.”
However, his party distanced itself from Moitra’s remarks and condemned him.
“The comments made by Mahua Moitra at India Today Conclave East 2022 and her views expressed on Goddess Kali are made in her personal capacity and are not endorsed by the party in any manner or form. Condemns,” the party tweeted.
Later, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked Moitra and the TMC for insulting Hindu deities and said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should issue an explanation.
BJP’s state vice president said, “This is not the first time such incidents have come to the fore. TMC leaders have done the same thing in the past. We think this to hurt the sentiments of Hindus to get votes.” This is the official stand of the ruling TMC.” The news agency quoted Ratindra Bose as saying.
After this, Moitra, while clarifying, attacked the BJP and the Sangh Parivar.
“To all you Sanghis – Lying will not make you a better Hindu. I have never endorsed any film or poster or mentioned the word smoking. Suggest you visit my mother Kali in Tarapith to see this. For what food and drink is offered as bhog. Joy Maa Tara,” she tweeted.