VThere were more exchange of barbs between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invoked Mother Kaali in his speech while delivering a lecture on the centenary of Swami Aatmasthananda ji Maharaj the former president of Ramakrishna Mission.
The TMC quickly hit back wondering how many times the Prime Minister had visited Kalighat or Dakshineswar asserting Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee was herself a great devotee of the Goddess.
“Statements are being made … with political intent … but I must ask how many time the Prime Minister has visited Kalighat the seat of Kaali,” wondered senior Trinamool parliamentarian Saugato Roy and reminded “Mamata Banerjee stays beside the Kalighat temple and is a great devotee of the Goddess … religiously offering prayers during special occasions … the Bengali New Year’s day to begin with … no one has to teach TMC, Mamata and the people of Bengal how to revere Kaali.”
Amid on going row over a Canadian filmmaker’s discourteous depiction of Kaali and subsequently an alleged denigrating reference of the Goddess by TMC MP Mahua Moitra, the Prime Minister on Sunday said how India always enjoyed the “unlimited blessings” of the Mother.
Referring to how Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, the Guru of Swami Vivekananda had the “clear visions of Mother Kaali” the Prime Minister said Vivekananda himself was inundated in reverence of Kaali.
Finding a “connection” between the timing of the Prime Minister’s reference of the Goddess and the “intensely” polarised atmosphere in the country in the wake of certain remarks made by some politicians, another TMC MP Sushmita Dev wondered why it was less necessary for Modi to refer to rising inflation and lack of jobs than certain other issues.
“There are issues like falling rupee, rising inflation, unemployment, Deb said asking why at this juncture the Prime Minister had to refer to other issues instead of dwelling on those that were more relevant for the country’s youth.
Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Chowdhury too attacked the BJP and the TMC for trying to polarise the atmosphere when the country was facing a severe economic crisis.
“Is it the time to raise issues as which God belongs to which State … Why will it be necessary for one section of the people to shout Jai Shri Ram and others to shout Jai Maa Kaali for political issues … why someone will claim that Rama belongs to U.P. and Kaali belongs to Bengal … Gods belong to the entire universe,” he said adding the politicians should better concentrate on development of the country rather than creating politically tumultuous issues to garner vote,” he said.