New Delhi, July 6: Amid row over Mahua Moitra's remarks over Goddess Kali, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor came out in support of Trinamool Congress MP on Wednesday, noting that "our forms of worship vary widely across the country." He also asked people to "lighten up and leave religion to individuals to practice privately."
"I am no stranger to malicious manufactured controversy, but am still taken aback by the attack on @MahuaMoitra for saying what every Hindu knows, that our forms of worship vary widely across the country. What devotees offer as bhog says more about them than about the goddess," Tharoor said on Twitter.
"We have reached a stage where no one can say anything publicly about any aspect of religion without someone claiming to be offended. It's obvious that @MahuaMoitra wasn't trying to offend anyone. I urge every1 to lighten up and leave religion to individuals to practice privately," Tharoor stated in another tweet.
Earlier on Tuesday, Moitra stirred up a row with her remarks at a conclave hosted by a media house. "Within Hinduism, being a Kali worshipper I have the freedom to imagine my Kali in that way... that is my freedom and I don't think anyone's sentiments should be hurt. I have the freedom... as much as you have to worship your god," she had stated.
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She said, "For me, Goddess Kali is a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess. And if you go to Tarapith (a major Shakti peeth in West Bengal's Birbhum district), you will see sadhus smoking. That is the version of Kali people worship (there)."
The ruling TMC criticised her remarks and distanced itself from them, noting that Moitra's views were spoken in her personal capacity and were not backed in any way by the party.
Moitra's remarks came after a massive controversy erupted after filmmaker Leena Manimekalai released a poster of her documentary 'Kaali,' which depicted a woman clad in a costume portraying the goddess smoking, on social media. A flag representing the LGBT community can be seen in the background.
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-PTC News
