New Delhi, May 21 (UNI) The Indian National Congress on Tuesday termed the BJP leader and Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sambit Patra's 'Lord Jagannath is devotee of Modi' statement as an insult to Hindus and demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Chairperson Social Media & Digital Platforms Supriya Shrinate said, "The statement by Sambit Patra that Mahaprabhu Lord Jagannath is a devotee of Modi is highly condemnable and an absolute insult to the crores of Lord Jagannath's devotees across the world. And Narendra Modi should apologise for this."
"For hours Sambit Patra did not utter a word over his statement, but when there was an uproar, he said that it was a slip of tongue," Shrinate said.
Shrinate said this was not the first time BJP had insulted Hindu gods and goddesses by equating them with Narendra Modi.
"During the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, cut outs of Narendra Modi was put up which were even bigger than Lord Ram," the Congress leader said.
She also alleged, that "Champat Rai had called Modi as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Union Minister Giriraj Singh Kangana Ranaut, former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Tirath Singh Rawat, who had made indecent comments on women wearing jeans, Sakshi Maharaj have all described Narendra Modi as an incarnation of God".
Shrinate further alleged that the Prime Minister had become so narcissistic with such propaganda that he has started calling himself god's messenger.
She also said that such propoganda was practised by Hitler who used to call himself a form of god and Kim Jong Un who also calls himself a divine power.
Questioning the silence of the media, Shrinate asked, "Where has Noida's commando warrior anchor gone? Why no questions were being asked from the BJP regarding this. Had such a thing been said by the Opposition, you would have lynched them with your questions."
It may be mentioned that on Monday, Sambit Patra in an interview to a news channel had claimed that Lord Jagannath was a devotee of Narendra Modi.
Later he apologised saying it was a slip of tongue.
UNI RBE KK