BJP Leader Sambit Patra Faces Backlash Over Controversial Statement on Lord Jagannath

BJP leader Sambit Patra found himself in hot water following a controversial statement he made regarding the revered deity, Lord Jagannath. Patra, in a slip of the tongue, mentioned that Lord Jagannath was a ‘devotee’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sparking outrage and criticism from various quarters.

Patra, realizing his error, issued an apology for his remarks and announced that he would observe a three-day fast starting Tuesday as a form of penance. Clarifying his intentions, Patra stated that he meant to convey Modi’s devout admiration for Lord Jagannath.

The situation escalated when Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condemned Patra’s statement, emphasizing the sanctity of Lord Jagannath in the state’s culture and urging the BJP to maintain the deity above political discussions.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also decried Patra’s comments, denouncing them as disrespectful towards the revered deity. Patnaik, further expressing his dismay, criticized the BJP candidate for undermining Odia pride with his words.

In response, Congress candidate Jayanarayan Patnaik filed a complaint against Sambit Patra with the local police station in Puri, adding a legal dimension to the controversy. Additionally, West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress condemned the statement, vowing that the people of Odisha and Bengal would hold Patra and the BJP accountable for the blasphemous remark.