Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Police registered a case against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra for her controversial remarks on Goddess Kali.
In the FIR registered by the Crime Branch in Bhopal, Moitra has been booked under Section 295A (outraging religious sentiments) of the India Penal Code.
The development came after Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan condemned Moitra’s remarks, saying, “The statement was made with the sole intention of demeaning Goddess Kali.”
Moitra triggered a row while addressing a conclave where she said that she had every right as an individual to imagine Goddess Kali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess, as each person had his or her unique way of worshipping deities.
Chouhan alleged that Moitra deliberately made the remarks without knowing anything about the Hindu religion and religious beliefs. The Chief Minister added that Moitra’s statement has hurt the religious feelings of Hindus.
“We will not tolerate disrespect towards Hindu gods and goddesses at any cost,” he added.
The police have confirmed registering an FIR against Moitra, though its copy has not been made public.
Apart from Madhya Pradesh, the Bengal unit of the BJP has also filed two complaints against Moitra for ‘insulting’ Goddess Kali.
I am a Kali worshipper. I am a practicing Hindu. The comments were on my own religion. They were not meant to offend… [BJP’s] Nupur Sharma denigrated Prophet Muhammad. I celebrate Goddess Kali… I don’t want to live in an India where I can’t talk about religion.
– Trinamool Congress MP, Mahua Moitra
