Mallikarjun Kharge's Response To Sambit Patra's Lord Jagannath Remarks Has An Ambedkar Reference

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has strongly condemned recent remarks made by BJP”s Puri candidate Sambit Patra concerning Lord Jagannath, calling them an insult to the revered deity.

In a statement, Kharge invoked Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, saying, “Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul. But in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship.” He emphasized that Patra”s comments are an affront to Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha, who is venerated by millions. “We condemn it in the strongest possible words,” Kharge stated.

Kharge accused the BJP of being “drunk with power” and warned that their arrogance would be defeated by the will of the people on June 4th. His remarks come in response to a viral video in which Patra, well-known for his role in BJP”s television debates, appeared to say, “Lord Jagannath is a devotee of PM Modi.”

Following widespread criticism, Patra clarified that his statement was a “slip of tongue.” He explained while responding to Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, “I gave a number of bytes today to multiple media channels after the massive success of Shri Narendra Modiji’s Road Show in Puri. 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!”

Calling it an “insult to the Lord Jagannath” and has “hurt the Odia Asmita (pride)”, BJD chief and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik blasted BJP’s Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sambit Patra on his comment on the presiding deity of the famous Jagannath Temple, Lord Jagannath.

“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,” the Odisha chief minister said in an X post.