Sambit Patra, BJP spokes person and Lok Sabha candidate, stirred controversy by claiming that Lord Jagannath is a devotee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This statement led to criticism of the BJP. Patra made the controversial remark during an interview with an Odia news channel, and the video went viral on social media. Opposition parties seized the opportunity to attack the BJP over Patra's statement.
Fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party from the Puri Lok Sabha constituency, Patra faced widespread criticism for his statement about Lord Jagannath. In response, he issued an apology, expressing regret and announcing a three-day fast as a form of repentance. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik strongly condemned Patra's statement, emphasizing that Lord Jagannath is revered by people worldwide and is a symbol of Odia identity.
Patnaik deemed Patra's remarks disrespectful to the deity and his followers. Following the backlash, Patra clarified that his statement was a slip of the tongue, explaining that he had intended to refer to Prime Minister Modi as a devotee of Lord Jagannath, not the other way around. He urged against politicizing his mistake during the election campaign.
