"You have hurt Odia Asmita": Naveen Patnaik slams Sabmit Patra over remarks relating to Lord Jagannath; BJP leader clarifies

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 20 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday slammed Sambit Patra over his remarks relating to Lord Jagannath, saying that BJP leader has hurt "Odia Asmita" and calling "Mahaprabhu a bhakt of another human being is an insult to the Lord".
Hitting out at Patra's "Lord Jagannath is devotee of PM Modi" remarks, Naveen Patnaik said the BJP leader's comments "will be condemned by people of Odisha for a very long time".
Patra later clarified that his remarks were a slip of the tongue and that "an issue" should not be made "out of a non-existent issue".
Patra, who is contesting Lok Sabha polls from Puri, said that in all his remarks he has stated that PM Modi is an ardent "bhakt" of Shri Jagannath and by mistake during one of the bytes he "pronounced just the opposite".
Naveen Patnaik said Lord Jagannath is the greatest symbol of "Odia Asmita" and Patra's remarks have hurt the sentiments of people.
"Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha is the Lord of 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 posted on X.
"Calling Mahaprabhu a bhakt of another human being is totally condemnable. I strongly denounce the statement made by the BJP Puri Lok Sabha candidate 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 the people of Odisha for a very long time," he added.
Sambit Patra made the controversial remarks on Monday while speaking with reporters during the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election and the second phase of the Odisha Assembly election.
In his clarification addressed to Naveen Patnaik, Patra said "we all have 'slip of tongue sometimes'".
"Naveen Ji Namaskar! I gave number of bytes today to multiple media channels after the massive success of Shri Narendra Modiji's Road Show in Puri today, everywhere I mentioned that Modi ji is an ardent "Bhakt" of Shri Jagannath Mahaprabhu ..by mistake during one of the bytes I pronounced just the opposite ..I know you too know and understand this ..Sir let's not make an issue out of a nonexistent issue ..we all have "slip of tongue sometimes".. Thanks and Pranam!," Patra posted on X.
Congress also attacked Patra for his remark relating to Lord Jagannath and sought an apology.
"According to Sambit Patra - "Modi's bhakt is Jagannath". It's a direct attack on Odia Asmita. We want Sambit to apologise with folded hands in front of the National Media and Each and every citizen of Odisha. It's very derogatory. You should mind your language," the Congress' Odisha unit posted on its official X handle.
PM Modi, who addressed a rally in Cuttack, came down heavily on the Biju Janata Dal government in Odisha alleging corruption.
He also alleged that the state government has given only land mafia, sand mafia, coal mafia and mining mafia to the state.
He expressed confidence that the people of Odisha will create a new history by electing a BJP government.
"The media have started saying that there will be a hung assembly, but that's not true; the BJP will form the government in Odisha. If there is something that BJD has given to Odisha, it has given land mafia, sand mafia, coal mafia and mining mafia," he said.
"Women have come here in such large numbers. First-time voters seem full of enthusiasm. Your enthusiasm and zeal show that, after 25 years, Odisha is going to create a new history. On June 10, the BJP's first CM in Odisha will take an oath, it is certain. With your blessings, the Modi government will take the oath for the third time in Delhi," PM Modi added.
On Monday, 35 Assembly and five Lok Sabha seats in Odisha went to the polls. The voting for the 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147 Assembly seats of Odisha are scheduled for the final four phases.