Kaali poster row:Canada museum issues apology

Amid controversy and after the Indian High Commission in Canada sought the removal of 'smoking Kaali' poster by filmmaker Leena Manimekalai, the Aga Khan Museum on Tuesday issued a statement saying that they deeply regret the offence caused to the members of the Hindu and other faith communities by the social media post. “The museum deeply regrets that one of the 18 short videos from ‘Under the Tent’ and its accompanying social media post have inadvertently caused offence to members of the Hindu and other faith communities,” the statement read. 

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has condemned party MP Mahua Moitrqa's remark on Goddes Kaali where she called the Hindu deity a "meat-eating, alcohol-accepting goddess".

The comments made by @MahuaMoitra at the #IndiaTodayConclaveEast2022 and her views expressed on Goddess Kali have been made in her personal capacity and are NOT ENDORSED BY THE PARTY in ANY MANNER OR FORM.

All India Trinamool Congress strongly condemns such comments.

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 5, 2022

India-born Canadian parliamentarian Chandra Arya said in the past few years, anti-Hindu and anti-India groups in Canada have joined forces resulting in attacks on Hinduism. Karnataka's Chandra Arya, who is a Liberal Party MP representing Nepean in the Canadian Parliament said the poster is painful.

Painful to see Kaali poster by filmmaker Leena Manimekalai.
Past few years, traditional anti-Hindu and anti-India groups in Canada have joined forces resulting in Hinduphobic articles in media & attacks on our Hindu temples.
Apology from @AgaKhanMuseum is welcome & appreciated

— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) July 5, 2022

A poster for a documentary directed by filmmaker Leena Manimekalai has drawn flak on social media for hurting religious sentiments with the depiction of Goddess Kaali. The Madurai-born, Toronto-based filmmaker had earlier taken to Twitter to share a poster of her film which depicted a woman dressed in a costume portraying the Goddess and smoking. A flag of the LGBT community is seen in the background.