New Delhi: TMC leader Mahua Moitra who has been facing backlash after her controversial comments over goddess Kaali on Wednesday said she stands by her comment and challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party to prove her wrong.
The TMC MP has also refused to apologise for her comments. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Moitra slammed BJP and said that she doesn't want to live in an India where BJP's monolithic patriarchal brahminical view of Hinduism will prevail.
Moitra has also dared the BJP to file cases against her. She said, "I will defend this till I die. File your FIRs - will see you in every court in the land."
The BJP has accused Krishnanagar MP of hurting religious sentiments of Hindus with her contentious remarks.
In another tweet, Mahua Moitra dared BJP saying, "Bring it on BJP! Am a Kali worshipper. I am not afraid of anything. Not your ignoramuses. Not your goons. Not your police. And most certainly not your trolls. Truth doesn't need back up forces.
Ms. Moitra, while participating in a conclave arranged by a media house in Kolkata on Tuesday had pointed out a "version of the Goddess" to which her party immediately reacted by not only distancing itself from the remark but also condemning it. "Kaali to me is meat eating... Alcohol accepting Goddess. To me, that is a version of Kaali," Ms. Moitra said.
As her comment set off outrage in the BJP camp and the Bengal BJP called for her arrest, she tweeted.
On Wednesday, the 47-year-old Trinamool leader said it was just the BJP game plan to divert attention from the controversy over Nupur Sharma's remarks on Prophet Mohammad. The difference, she said, was that "Nupur Sharma denigrated the Prophet. I celebrated Goddess Kali".
Moitra's party, Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress, has distanced itself from the controversy.
"The comments made by @MahuaMoitra at the #IndiaTodayConclaveEast2022 and her views expressed on Goddess Kali have been made in her personal capacity and are NOT ENDORSED BY THE PARTY in ANY MANNER OR FORM. All India Trinamool Congress strongly condemns such comments," the party tweeted, following which, Moitra unfollowed the party handle.
Asked about the matter on Wednesday, she said she was a loyal soldier of the party and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and she will "work it out" with them.