Poster Controversy in WB: Mamta Banerjee depicted as Maa Durga, Modi as Mahishasur, Oppn parties as goats

PTI, Feb 18, 2022, 5:23 PM IST

Image Source: One India Hindi

Ahead of the elections to 108 municipal bodies in West Bengal, a poster showing Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee as ‘Durga’ and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as ‘Mahishasur’ has stirred a controversy in the state.

According to Hindu mythology, Maa Durga had killed Mahishasur on top of the Chamundi Hills. The poster, put up in Midnapore district, shows Mamata Banerjee as goddess Durga while PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have been shown as Mahishasur.

Apart from them, Opposition parties have been depicted as goats. The message on the poster reads that ‘if anyone else votes for them (opposition parties), they will be sacrificed.’

Taking offense to this, local BJP leader Vipul Acharya said that the party will approach the Election Commission over the matter. “Portraying leaders as deities is an insult to Sanatan It is also an insult to the prime minister and home minister,” he said.

However, TMC leader Anima Saha claimed no knowledge of who put up this poster. “Had I known about this, I would never have allowed it,” she said.