Bengaluru: Amidst the ongoing row over the Goddess Kali poster and comments by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Wednesday said the heart and spirit of Indian culture cannot be trivialised by anyone.
"I do believe that a balance must be maintained in that the symbols, the essence of our faith, the heart and spirit of our culture cannot be trivialized by anyone, anywhere. Be it elsewhere, abroad or here," he told reporters here.
"Therefore people must be very careful before they play with the emotions of people which are reflected in such symbols in such culture in such a state," he added.
On Tuesday, Moitra stirred up a controversy with her remarks at a conclave hosted by a media house. An FIR has been filed against Mahua for her remarks and responding to this.
"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 said.
For me, Goddess Kali is a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess, she said.
Singhvi said the organisers should have thought many times on the visual showing of one of the most respected Goddesses.
These remarks are in contrast to the earlier remarks of Congress MP Sashi Tharoor who batted for Mahua Moitra. He said, "Our forms of worship vary widely across the country" and urged people to lighten up and leave religion to individuals to practice privately.
The ruling TMC in West Bengal flayed her comments and distanced itself from them stating that Mahua's views had been made in her personal capacity and were not endorsed by the party.
After this, Moitra unfollowed TMC on Twitter. (UNI)