Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sambit Patra found himself embroiled in controversy over remarks regarding Lord Jagannath. He clarified, expressing regret for his slip of the tongue and vowed to seek forgiveness through penance in the name of Lord Jagannath.
Patra, BJP’s candidate from Puri Lok Sabha seat, sparked a dispute in Odisha by stating to a local news channel that “Lord Jagannath is a devotee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” later attributing it to a verbal slip.
Explaining the incident to ANI, Patra mentioned the context of giving multiple media bytes after Prime Minister Modi’s roadshow in Puri. In the midst of the crowd and noise, he unintentionally made the contradictory statement. He emphasized that no one in their right mind would assert that a deity is a devotee of a human.
Acknowledging that some sentiments were hurt, Patra asserted his apology and decision to observe fasting as penance, emphasizing his devotion to Lord Jagannath.
During the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election and the second phase of the Odisha Assembly election, Patra’s unintended comment drew sharp criticism from Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who deemed it an insult to the Lord and Odia identity.
In response, Patra urged not to amplify a non-existent issue and reminded that slip of the tongue happens to everyone. He also faced criticism from Congress, which demanded an apology.
Prime Minister Modi’s roadshow in Puri included Sambit Patra. Patra, who lost in 2019, is now contesting against Congress’ Jaya Narayan Patnayak and BJD’s Arup Patnaik.
