BJD leader Pandian takes a dig at Sambit Patra's 3-day fast
Slamming BJP for dragging Lord Jagannath into politics, Pandian took a jibe at Patra for announcing that he would fast for three days as a penance for his remark that 'Lord Jagannath is Modi's devotee'
Former Odisha bureaucrat and BJD leader VK Pandian on Tuesday (May 21) cautioned BJP leader Sambit Patra from undertaking a 3-day fast to repent his gaffe calling Lord Jagannath a Modi devotee.
Pandian asked Patra, a practising surgeon, to avoid observing a three-day fast due to the heat and to eat properly, or he would faint before the elections.
“I think he should take care, there is too much heat and dust. He should eat properly and take care. Three days before elections, he should not faint. He is a doctor, he should know what to do," ANI quoted Pandian as saying.
Patra’s slip of the tongue
Pandian’s remarks came after Patra, the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Puri constituency, stirred up a huge controversy by calling Lord Jagannath a ‘Modi Bhakt’ or a devotee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, soon after, he apologised and announced that he would observe a three-day fast in penance for his "slip of the tongue".
After advising the doctor to eat properly three days before elections, Pandian went on to add that BJD keeps religion out of politics. Further, he said that Lord Jagannath who is a symbol of Odiya identity is above politics for both the ruling party and the people at large.
"Lord Jagannath can never be escalated and Lord Jagannath should always be above everything else. BJD never believes in politics over religion, especially Lord Jagannath who is the symbol of Odisha's identity," Pandian said.
Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik held the same views, he pointed out.
Keep our God outside politics
“I think whatever the time lag was there, many people have their comments on social media that it had hurt the sentiments of people of Odisha, and BJP is talking about Odiya. Lord Jagannath is the symbol of Odiya. Chief Minister has always felt that we should keep our God outside politics. They are immortal and we are mortal. Why should we mix both? So he felt hurt when this statement happened," Pandian said, according to news reports.
He slammed the BJP for dragging Lord Jagannath into politics. He said, “They (BJP) have been harping on Odiya and Navin Patnaik is genuinely upset. Lord Jagannath has been dragged into politics so much in this election which is not fair. People of Odisha don't like dragging religion or Lord Jagannath into politics."
Further, he asked the BJP to talk about all they have done, like reducing the price of rice, creating great infrastructure, providing jobs, and asking for votes. "Why do you have to drag the Lord for elections? That shows that you're a little desperate," asked Pandian.
