Police file case against TMC MP Mahua Moitra for remarks about Goddess Kaali

Police in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh have filed a case against the BJP-ruled Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra over her remarks about Goddess Kaali. The first Information Report FIR was registered at the crime branch police station in state capital Bhopal under section 295 A of the Indian Penal Code outraging religious feelings, an official said.

The case was registered on the complaint of Ram Chandra 52, a tea-seller and resident of Jehangirabad area of the city, said the police station in charge Anoop Uikey. Moitra's statement describing Goddess Kaali as meat-eating and alcohol-accepting deity hurt his religious feelings, the complaint said. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the statement of the TMC MP has hurt the religious feelings of Hindus. He said that they would not tolerate disrespect to any Hindu gods and goddesses at any cost. On Tuesday, Moitra, MP from Krishnanagar, kicked up a controversy by saying that she had every right as an individual to imagine Goddess Kali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting deity, as each person had their own way of offering prayers.

The TMC MP was asked to respond to outrage over a film poster that showed a woman dressed as Goddess Kali smoking a cigarette and holding a pride flag.

While the BJP criticised her, her party, TMC, distanced itself from the comment and condemned it.