The political row over Trinamul Congress Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra's comment on Goddess Kaali refuses to end with the BJP and the TMC camps attacking each other, reports hindustantimes.com.
The firebrand Trinamul MP on Sunday apparently took swipes at Amit Malviya, BJP's co-in charge of West Bengal) after Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the goddess in his speech at the centenary celebrations of Swami Atmasthananda.
"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," Mahua Moitra tweeted.
Goddess Kali's unlimited blessings are always with India: PM Modi
Goddess Kali's unlimited blessings are always with India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday while lauding the country's saints for always standing for "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat" (One India, great India).
The establishment of Ramakrishna Mission is also associated with this idea, he said in a video message on the birth centenary celebrations of Swami Atmasthananda, a former head of the organisation.
Invoking Goddess Kali, Modi said Ramakrishna Paramhansa was one saint who had a clear vision of her and his disciple Swami Vivekananda had also felt the spiritual vision about the goddess, which infused into him extraordinary energy and strength.
Noting his association with Atmasthananda, the prime minister said the saint would often mention Maa Kali and that it was natural for him to feel an association with the goddess while looking at her temple at Dakshineswar during his visit to Belur Math.
"When faith is sacred, then shakti shows us the way herself. Maa Kali's unlimited blessings are always with India. With the spiritual energy, India is moving ahead with the spirit of world's welfare," he said.
His comments came amid a row over the controversial depiction of the goddess in a poster by a Canadian film-maker of Indian origin, which has drawn angry reaction from BJP leaders and Hindu groups. TMC MP Mahua Moitra's remarks that she had every right to imagine Goddess Kali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting" deity has added to the row.
Modi made no reference to the topic in his speech.
Everything is pervaded by the consciousness of the mother, and this consciousness is seen in the Kali Puja of Bengal, he said.
Modi noted that Swami Vivekananda, who founded the organisation, lived for making India great.
His influence was seen in all parts of the country and his travels awakened a national consciousness in that era of slavery and infused new confidence in it, Modi said, adding this tradition was carried forward by Atmasthananand throughout his life.
"Be it Adi Shankaracharya from hundreds of years ago or Swami Vivekananda in modern times, the saint tradition of India has always been proclaiming 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'. The establishment of Ramakrishna Mission is also associated with the idea of 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat'," a PMO statement quoted him saying.
The Trinamul Congress had earlier condemned Moitra's statement on Kali stating the party does not endorse those comments. "At the same time, however, it is the matter of individual choice how they would pray to their god or goddess," Trinamul leader Kunal Ghosh said.
However, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee came to Moitra's rescue recently. Without naming her, Mamata said mistakes happen. "We make mistakes while working but they can be rectified. Some people don't see all the good work and suddenly start shouting... Negativity affects our brain cells so let's think positively," she said
