The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) on Saturday spoke up on the controversy over a movie poster that depicts Goddess Kali smoking a cigarette.
Addressing the media during the ongoing three-day Akhil Bharatiya Prant Pracharaks meet in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu, the right-wing outfit said that no one should hurt anyone’s religious sentiments.
“Creative freedom has been a tradition in India. But no one should hurt anyone’s religious sentiments. Everyone should be careful about that,” Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bhartiya Prachar Pramukh of RSS, said.
The remarks came against the backdrop of a blazing row over filmmaker Leena Manimekalai’s documentary film ‘Kaali’, whose poster shows the Hindu goddess smoking, while holding the LGBTQ+ community’s pride flag in hand. Multiple FIRs have been filed against Manimekalai for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
The controversy was fuelled further when Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, while responding to a question about the contentious poster, said she has every right as “an individual to imagine Goddess Kali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess”. Now Moitra is also facing several police complaints for her controversial statement.
ON UDAIPUR BEHEADING
The RSS also spoke against the beheading of a tailor in Hindu, saying that there is anger among Hindus over the ghastly murder and also exhorted Muslims to speak up against it as well.
“Any amount of condemnation is less on Udaipur killing … Muslim society should also come forward and speak against Udaipur killing,” Ambekar said.
“For some days, it has been going on that threats have been issued to people. If you do not agree with someone, there are ways of protesting peacefully. No one has the right to kill someone,” he further said.
At the annual Prant Pracharak meeting of the RSS, discussions have been going on about the organisation’s expansion plans in the run up to its centenary in 2025.
“RSS will be completing its 100 years. Its centenary year will be celebrated in 2025. We have set targets for expansion of RSS in the run up to the ‘Shatabdi Varsh’,” Ambekar said.
Several top RSS leaders including RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, key RSS functionaries including Manmohan Vaid, Arun Kumar, Dr Krishan Gopal and CR Mukund are present at the three-day meeting.
VHP BACKS NUPUR SHARMA
On the other hand, Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s executive president Alok Kumar has endorsed suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s remarks on Prophet Muhammad, which sparked a massive row at home and abroad.
“Nupur Sharma did not say anything wrong, we heard what she said. This country runs on the Constitution, not by Sharia. The Supreme Court has to decide whether she said something wrong or not. Nupur Sharma is innocent until court gives its verdict,” said Alok Kumar.