Sambit Patra Apologises For "Lord Jagannath Is PM Modi's Devotee" Remark; Will Observe 3 Days Fast As Penance

Senior BJP leader and spokesperson Sambit Patra has apologised for his recent controversial remarks on Lord Jagannath terming it as a 'slip of the tongue'. Sharing a video of the micro-blogging site X, formerly known as Twitter, Sambit Patra said that he is ashamed of his statement, never intended to say anything that would hurt religious sentiments and announced that he will observe a three-day fast as penance.

Sambit Patra, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election 2024 from Odisha's Puri seat, while speaking to a channel, had said that "Lord Jagannath is a devotee (bhakt) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi." Calling it a slip of tongue, Patra clarified that he wanted to say PM Modi is a devotee of Lord Jagannath, and he made a silly mistake, which he realises was wrong.

Making the public apology, Patra, in the video message, said, "Today, I am deeply distressed by the mistake I made regarding Lord Jagannath. I bow my head at the feet of Lord Jagannath and apologise. To atone for my error and repentance, I will observe a fast for the next three days."

"During Prime Minister's visit to Puri, I was talking to many media friends amidst the large crowd on the Grand Road of Puri. While speaking to a media friend in this sea of people, I mistakenly said 'Modi's devotee Jagannath' instead of 'Lord Jagannath's devotee Modi.' For this mistake, I prostrate myself at the feet of Lord Jagannath and seek forgiveness. To repent for this error, I will fast for the next three days," he added.

Later, when he realised that he has goofed up, Patra clarified, "This is not possible; no person in his right mind can say that God is a devotee of any human being."

He also calling his earlier statement an unintentional mistake and apologised if anybody's sentiments got hurt. He added that he seeks forgiveness for committing a mistake unknowingly.

Opposition Reaction:

Slamming BJP, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik criticised Sambit Patra and connected his statement with Odia 'asmita' (pride). He said "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."

"The Lord is the greatest symbol of Odia asmita. I strongly denounce the statement... and I appeal to the BJP to keep the Lord above any political discourse. By this, you have deeply hurt Odia asmita and this will be remembered and condemned by people of Odisha for a very long time," Patnaik said.

While Congress MP Rahul Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating when PM starts considering himself as an emperor and the courtiers start considering him as God, then it is clear that the downfall of the Lanka of sin is near. Who gave a handful of BJP people the right to hurt the sentiments of crores of people? This ego is becoming the cause of their destruction."