‘Will fast for 3 days’: Sambit Patra apologises for remark on Lord Jagannath

BJP leader and the party’s candidate from Puri constituency in Odisha in the Lok Sabha elections, Sambit Patra, who faced widespread criticism for saying that Lord Jagannath is a devotee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, apologised for his “slip of the tongue” and said he would observe fast for three days as a penance for his statement.

Patra, in a post on X on Tuesday (May 21), wrote, “Today, my conscience is deeply troubled by the mistake I have committed regarding Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath Ji. I bow my head at the feet of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath Ji and seek forgiveness. I will be fasting for the next 3 days to repent and rectify my mistake. Jai Jagannath.” (translated from Odia).

He clarified further while speaking to the news agency ANI, “This is not possible; no person in his right mind can say that God is a devotee of any human being. The mistake happened unknowingly while giving out bytes to a channel. I agree that the sentiments of some people have been hurt due to my statement, but even the Lord forgives a person for committing a mistake unknowingly.”

“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,” he added. 

On Monday (May 20), Patra told a local news channel that Lord Jagannath is a 'bhakt' of Prime Minister Modi. This remark triggered a massive political row with leaders across the political spectrum criticising him for making such a statement. Top leaders of the opposition parties like Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal denounced Patra for hurting the sentiments of millions of devotees of Lord Jagannath.