Sambit Patra, the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Puri, stoked controversy on Monday after claiming on a local TV channel that “Lord Jagannath is Modi’s bhakt”. Patra later described the statement as a “slip of tongue”.
Earlier, Sambit Patra had accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a roadshow in Puri. During an interaction with Kanak TV channel, Sambit Patra stated, “Modinkara bhakta Jagannath; au ame sabu hauchu Modinka parivarjana (Lord Jagannath is Modi’s bhakt, and we all are members of Modi’s family). I can’t control my emotions after witnessing such incredible moments. I feel it’s a special day for all Odias.”
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condemned Patra’s remarks. On social media platform X, Patnaik wrote: “Calling Mahaprabhu (Lord Jagannath) a bhakt of a human being is an insult to the Lord. This has hurt the sentiments and demeaned the faith of crores of Jagannatha bhaktas and Odias across the world. The Lord is the greatest symbol of Odia asmita (pride). Calling Mahaprabhu a bhakt of another human being is totally condemnable.”
Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha is the Lord of Universe.
Calling Mahaprabhu a bhakt of another human being is an insult to the Lord. This has hurt the sentiments and demeaned the faith of crores of Jagannatha bhaktas and Odias across the world.
The Lord is the greatest Symbol of…
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) May 20, 2024
Naveen Patnaik’s criticism highlights the ‘Odia asmita’ (pride) narrative often used by the BJP against the BJD, particularly targeting the influence of the CM’s close aide and BJD’s chief election strategist V K Pandian, who is from Tamil Nadu.
Naveen Patnaik further stated, “I strongly denounce the statement made by the BJP Puri Lok Sabha candidate, and I appeal to the BJP to keep the Lord above any political discourse. By this, you have deeply hurt Odia asmita and this will be remembered and condemned by people of Odisha for a very long time.”
The Congress also demanded an apology from Sambit Patra, accusing him of exploiting Lord Jagannath for political gains.
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Sambit Patra later responded to Patnaik’s post on X, clarifying his position. “I gave a number of bytes today to multiple media channels after the massive success of Shri Narendra Modiji’s roadshow in Puri today. Everywhere, I mentioned that Modi ji is an ardent ‘bhakt’ of Shri Jagannath Mahaprabhu… By mistake, during one of the bytes, I said just the opposite… I know you too know and understand this… Sir, let’s not make an issue out of a nonexistent issue… We all have a slip of tongue sometimes,” he wrote.
Naveen Ji Namaskar!
I gave number of bytes today to multiple media channels after the massive success of Shri Narendra Modiji’s Road Show in Puri today, everywhere I mentioned that Modi ji is an ardent “Bhakt” of Shri Jagannath Mahaprabhu ..by mistake during one of the bytes I… https://t.co/6Q1Kuj5E6O— Sambit Patra (Modi Ka Parivar) (@sambitswaraj) May 20, 2024
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal also responded to Patnaik’s post, criticising the BJP. Arvind Kejriwal stated, “They have started thinking that they are above God. This is the height of arrogance. Calling God a bhakt of Modi ji is an insult to God.”
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