21st May: BJP led a massive roadshow from Marichkote Square to Medical Square on Grand Road in Puri on Monday, May 20. After the end of the roadshow, while interacting with the local media, Sambit Patra, BJP leader and Lok Sabha candidate, made a comment which got him enmeshed in a major controversy.
BJP’s Sambit Patra statement sparks major controversy
Here’s what Sambit Patra has said while talking to the media:
“Lakhs of people have gathered to see Modi. Lord Jagannath is a devotee (bhakt) of Modi, and we are Modi’s family. This is an unusual sight, and I am not able to control my emotions. I think it is a historic day for all Odias”
Sambit Patra referred to Jagannath, the revered deity of the ancient town, as a devotee of PM Modi which received serious condemnation and backlash from other opposition party leaders.
Backlash from Odisha CM, Delhi CM and Congress President
Naveen Patnaik, Odisha CM & BJD chief, expressed sharp criticism and strongly condemned Patra’s statement saying that it’s an insult to the Lord.
“Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha is the Lord of the Universe. Calling Mahaprabhu a ‘bhakt’ of another human being is an insult to the Lord… it is totally condemnable. This has hurt the sentiments and demeaned the faith of crores of Jagannatha bhaktas and Odias across the world.
In a tweet on X, Sambit Patra got condemned by the Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.
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
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also expressed his views on the statement made by the BJP leader Sambit Patra, arguing, “They have started thinking that they are above God. This is the height of arrogance. Calling God bhakt of Modi ji is an insult to God,”
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge took to X and denounced Patra’s controversial remarks quoting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar “Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul. But in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship.”
“I mistakenly said that Lord Jagannath is a devotee of PM Modi.”: Sambit Patra
However, Sambit Patra apologized for this gaffe and cleared the air saying it was a ‘slip of tongue’.
“Sir let’s not make an issue out of a nonexistent issue ..we all have “slip of tongue sometimes”, he replied to Naveen Patnaik on X and announced to fast as an apology and said that it wasn’t intentional.
