Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the name of the goddess “Kali” during a video address. PM Modi said that “blessings of Maa Kali are always with the country.” This comes after filmmaker Leena Manimekalai sparked outrage with a poster for her film ‘Kaali.’
Previously, the comments of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on a film poster depicting Goddess Kali sparked outrage across the country.
Prime Minister Modi hailed the Hindu goddess in his speech during an event for Ramakrishna Mission. This has sparked a new round of squabbles between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The poster filmmaker Leena Manimekalai’ s film ‘Kaali’ took the internet by storm as several users across the world claimed that it “hurts religious sentiments” with the depiction of a Hindu Goddess smoking cigarettes.
In his speech at the centennial commemorations of Ramakrishna Math’s 15th president, Swami Atmasthananda, PM Modi said:
“Swami Ramakrishna Paramhansa was one such saint who had a vision of Maa Kali and had surrendered his whole being at the feet of Maa Kali. He used to say this whole world, everything is pervaded by the consciousness of Goddess Kali. This consciousness is visible in the Kali Puja of Bengal. This consciousness is visible in the faith of Bengal and the country…When your faith and beliefs are pure, the power she shows you the way. The limitless blessings of Maa Kali are always with India.”
The Prime Minister then went on to say: “Whenever I had the opportunity, I visited Belur Math and Dakhineshwar Kali temple. It is natural to feel a connection. When your faith and beliefs are pure, the power herself shows you the way.”
Mahua Moitra is a Trinamool Congress MP who has come under fire from the BJP for her recent inflammatory remarks about Goddess Kali. She lambasted the BJP and said that they are not the sole custodians of the Hindu deities. She further resented that the BJP ought not to teach the Bengalis how to worship the “Goddess Kali”.
According to her, the BJP cannot enforce its beliefs on people in other areas of the nation who follow other rituals that have been popular for the past 2,000 years and differ from the traditions of worshipping deities in North India.
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks, Amit Malviya, the BJP’s IT cell in-charge, tweeted, “Modi speaks reverently about Maa Kaali being the center of devotion, not just for Bengal, but for entire India.” On the other hand, a TMC MP insults Maa Kaali and Mamata Banerjee instead of acting against her defends her obnoxious portrayal of Maa Kaali…”. See here.
Mahua Moitra responded by posting;
“Would advise BJP Troll-In-Charge for Bengal to tell his masters to stop commenting on things they have no clue about.
Didi O Didi got them the boot.
Now Maa O Maa will get them a foot on their chest.” See here.
It is worth noting that a recent controversy arose as a result of the poster for the film ‘Kaali.’ The poster depicts the Hindu Goddess Kali smoking a cigarette while holding the rainbow flag of the LGBTQ+ community.
Many cases have been registered against Leena Manimekalai, the director, for infringing on religious sentiments. Mahua Moitra, an MP for the Trinamool Congress Party, disrespected the goddess Kali while responding to a question about the controversy surrounding the movie’s poster, which caused the controversy to escalate even further.
The controversial poster of the movie “Kali” was recently shared by director the Leena Manimekalai. The poster sparked outrage because it blatantly offends the religious sentiments of the Hindus. The controversy intensified after the director posted a second image on Twitter in which Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were seen smoking. However, this image was not associated with her film.
Several cases have been filed across the country against the director, Leena Manimekalai. Moreover, people have asked for her Twitter handle to be suspended.
The Aga Khan Museum administration has already apologized for offending religious sentiments.
