After "Slip Of Tongue", BJP Leader Sambit Patra's "Upvaas" Vow As Atonement

BJP leader Sambit Patra finds himself in the eye of a political storm after calling Lord Jagannath a devotee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in what he claims was a "slip of tongue" while talking to the media after the PM's roadshow in Odisha's Puri yesterday. The comment on Lord Jagannath, a revered deity in the ancient town, has ignited a fierce backlash from the BJP's political rivals, especially Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Sambit Patra has now announced a period of "upvaas" (fasting) to atone for the flub.

In his clarification, he refers to the sweltering heat and noise following PM Modi's roadshow. Mr Patra said he had aimed to highlight PM Modi's devotion to Lord Jagannath but mistakenly stated, "Jagannath is Modi's bhakt." The comment, captured on camera, immediately provoked outrage from multiple quarters.

READ | Sambit Patra's "Slip Of Tongue" That Found A New 'Bhakt' For PM Modi

"Today, a statement made by me had created a controversy. After PM Narendra Modi's roadshow in Puri, I gave byte to many media channels and everywhere I said the same thing, that PM Narendra Modi is an ardent devotee of Mahaprabhu Jagannath... In the end, when another channel took my byte, it was extremely hot, crowded and noisy. Unknowingly, while giving the byte, I said the opposite, that Mahaprabhu is a devotee of PM Narendra Modi. This can never be true, and a person in his senses can never say such things that god is a devotee of a human. I have made this mistake unintentionally. I know some people must have been hurt but even god forgives mistakes made unintentionally... I need to seek forgiveness from Mahaprabhu Jagannath for this slip of the tongue and I have decided to do a 'upvaas'," Mr Patra said.

आज महाप्रभु श्री जगन्नाथ जी को लेकर मुझसे जो भूल हुई है, उस विषय को लेकर मेरा अंतर्मन अत्यंत पीड़ित है।

मैं महाप्रभु श्री जगन्नाथ जी के चरणों में शीश झुकाकर क्षमा याचना करता हूँ। अपने इस भूल सुधार और पश्चाताप के लिए अगले 3 दिन मैं उपवास पर रहूँगा।

जय जगन्नाथ।