‘Maa Kali Doesn’t Eat Dhokla’: Mahua Moitra Hits Back at PM Modi’s Bengal Outreach

Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invocation of Goddess Kali during his rally in West Bengal has sparked a sharp response from Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra, who accused the BJP of resorting to cultural posturing for electoral gains.

Responding to the PM’s religious overtures, Moitra remarked on social media, “Bit late in the day to start invoking Maa Kali for Bengali votes Hon’ble @narendramodi — she doesn’t eat dhoklas & never will.” Her comment underscored what she claimed was an artificial attempt to align with Bengal’s spiritual identity.

During his rally in Durgapur on July 18, PM Modi began his address by hailing “Maa Kali” and “Maa Durga,” calling them symbols of Bengali pride. But the tone soon shifted as he launched a scathing attack on the TMC government, accusing it of endangering West Bengal’s identity and compromising national security by encouraging infiltration for vote-bank politics.

The Prime Minister said that Bengal’s economy had been crippled by the TMC’s corruption-driven policies and alleged that the state had become inhospitable for investors. He claimed that a so-called “Gunda Tax” system had taken control of the state’s resources and discouraged industrial development.

Modi further alleged that TMC’s political strategy had crossed the limits of appeasement, openly supporting infiltrators and undermining constitutional institutions. He said the ruling party was putting Bengal’s heritage and culture at risk by prioritizing narrow political gains over long-term welfare.

Amid ongoing concerns about the treatment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states, Modi reassured that the BJP values Bengali identity wherever it governs. He emphasized that Bengali culture and language are given the respect they deserve in all BJP-led states.