NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said blessings of Goddess Kali are always with the country, which is moving ahead with a spiritual energy for the welfare of the world.
He was virtually addressing the centenary celebrations of Swami Atmasthananda, organised by Ramakrishna Mission in Kolkata.
In his speech PM referred to Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa, the 19th century Bengal mystic and also the guru of Swami Vivekananda.
“Swami Ramakrishna Paramhansa was one such saint who had a vision of Maa Kali, who had surrendered his whole being at the feet of Maa Kali. He used to say this whole world, everything is pervaded by the consciousness of the Goddess. This consciousness is visible in the Kali Puja of Bengal. This consciousness is visible in the faith of Bengal and the country,” Modi said.
Modi’s comments came amid a raging controversy triggered by the depiction of Goddess Kali in a film poster, and comments by TMC MP Mahua Moitra.
Modi, during his address, also said, “Whenever I had the opportunity, I visited Belur Math and the (Dakhineshwar) Kali temple (across the river); it is natural to feel a connection. When your faith and beliefs are pure, the power (Goddess) herself shows you the way. The limitless blessings of Maa Kali are always with India. The country is moving ahead with this spiritual energy for the world’s welfare.”
Lauding the Ramakrishna Mission for its service to humanity, Modi said its saints are known as messengers of national unity in the country and are representatives of Indian culture abroad.
Soon after Modi’s speech, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya attacked Moitra, calling her comments about Maa Kali “obnoxious.”

The Maa Kali poster controversy was triggered when an actor dressed as the Goddess was shown smoking a cigarette, in a poster of the documentary “Kaali” by Leena Manimekalai. The director was accused of deliberately hurting Hindu sentiments, and FIRs lodged against her in several states.
Speaking at an event, Mahua Moitra, while not mentioning the film or the poster, elaborated on her views of the Goddess and practices of worship.
“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). I, within Hinduism, being a Kali worshipper, have the right to imagine Kali in that way; that is my freedom,” she said.
The Trinamool Congress was quick to distance itself from the Moitra’s comments, while the BJP launched an all out attack.