BJP's Sambit Patra to observe fast as 'penanace' amid backlash over Lord Jagannath remark

It was never my intention to commit this mistake, says BJP leader Sambit Patra.

After facing backlash for his comments relating to Lord Jagannath, BJP leader Sambit Patra said he would offer penance and fast as an apology.

Patra, who is the BJP candidate from Puri Lok Sabha seat, told a local news channel that "Lord Jagannath is a devotee (bhakt) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi”. However, he later described the remark as a "slip of the tongue”. The iconic Jagannath Temple in Puri is a revered pilgrimage site.

“I had given out bytes to almost 15-16 channels wherein I was repeating that Prime Minister Modi is an ardent devotee of Maha Prabhu Jagannath Ji. Even as the Chief Minister of Ahmedabad and even before that, PM Modi used to regularly visit and offer prayers at Lord Jagannath temple there in Ahmedabad,” Patra told ANI. “It was never my intention to commit this mistake, but still because Mahaprabhu Jagannath is the Lord of the Universe and I am an ardent devotee just like the hundreds and thousands of Odias, I feel I should convey my apology and offer penance to the Lord for a slip of the tongue that occurred unknowingly.”

What did Patra say?

“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,” he said.

Patra made the remark while speaking to reporters during the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election and the second phase of the Odisha Assembly election.

Opposition reacts

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik termed the remark 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. This has hurt the sentiments and demeaned the faith of crores of Jagannatha bhaktas and Odias across the world," Patnaik wrote in a post on the microblogging site X.

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that Patra’s remarks reflect the “arrogance” of BJP leaders.

“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 in-charge for Odisha, Ajoy Kumar also said in a post, “The country and Odisha will not tolerate this insult of Lord Jagannath ji!.” “Will the media ask any question to Sambit Patra? Where are those journalists with the 7 pm agenda? Where have those Hindutva organisations gone,” said Kejriwal.

Meanwhile, the Odisha unit of Congress said Patra’s remark was a direct attack on Odia Asmita. "We want Sambit to apologise with folded hands in front of national media, and each and every citizen of Odisha. It's very derogatory… You should mind your language," read Odisha Congress's post on X.