The viral clip features Sambit Patra speaking to a private Odia channel where he can be heard saying that Lord Jagannath is PM Modi’s “bhakt” (devotee). The BJP leader later apologised, calling his remark a “slip of tongue”.
- Sambit Patra, in a slip of tongue, stated that Lord Jagannath is PM Modi’s devotee
- Naveen Patnaik and Arvind Kejriwal condemn Patra’s remark
- Congress demands an apology from PM Modi
Sambit Patra, a BJP leader and the party’s candidate for the Puri Lok Sabha constituency, intentionally stirred up controversy when a careless comment he made about Lord Jagannath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi went viral.
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In the widely shared video, Patra is heard declaring that Lord Jagannath is PM Modi’s bhakt (devotee) while speaking to a private Odia station.
“Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha is the Lord of Universe,” declared Naveen Patnaik, the chief minister of Odisha and the leader of the ruling Biju Janata Dal, in response to the film. It is an affront to the Lord to refer to Mahaprabhu as a follower of another person. Across the world, this has offended and denigrated the beliefs of millions of Odias and Jagannatha bhaktas.”
Calling Lord Jagannath the greatest symbol of Odia asmita (pride), Patnaik denounced Patra’s statement.
“By this you have deeply hurt Odia Asmita and this will be remembered and condemned by the people of Odisha for a very long time,” he said.
Later, Sambit Patra clarified his remarks, emphasising that it was a slip of tongue.
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Replying to Naveen Patnaik’s post on X, Sambit Patra 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 pronounced 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 ‘slip of tongue’ sometimes. Thanks and Pranam,” he added.
In a video on X, Patra said he would fast for three days to repent for his mistake.
“Today, I am deeply troubled by the mistake I have made regarding Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath Ji,” a rough translation of Patra’s post in Hindi read.
“I bow down at the feet of Mahaprabhu Sri Jagannath Ji and beg for forgiveness. I will be fasting for the next three days to correct my mistake and repent,” he added.
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal also criticised Patra, calling his remark an “insult to God”.
“I strongly condemn this statement of BJP. They have started thinking that they are above God. This is height of arrogance. Calling God bhakt of Modi ji is an insult to God,” he said.
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The Congress also hit out at the BJP over Patra’s remark. “BJP leader Sambit Patra says that Mahaprabhu Lord Shri Jagannath is a devotee of Narendra Modi. This is a grave insult to Mahaprabhu. This statement has hurt the faith of crores of devotees. Sambit Patra, who is immersed in Modi Bhakti, should not have committed this sin. Narendra Modi himself should apologize for this disgusting statement,” a post on party’s X handle read.
Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu, is a popular deity in Odisha and his temple in Puri is a pilgrimage site.
