The recent incident involving social media influencer Kamiya Jani's visit to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, has sparked a heated exchange between the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP raised objections to Jani's entry into the sacred temple, citing her alleged consumption of beef and questioned her visit's propriety.
BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal strongly criticized Jani's visit, pointing to her public statements about consuming beef in her videos and expressed outrage that she was allowed into the revered shrine and even offered 'Mahaprasad,' considered highly sacred. Biswal demanded the temple's purification after Jani's entry and called for clarification from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, raising concerns about government expenditure on her visit and the promotion of 5T Chairman V.K. Pandian.
In response, BJD MP Manas Mangaraj questioned the BJP's objections, highlighting instances where the BJP government had collaborated with Jani for films on Hindu heritage and temples. Mangaraj pointed out that Jani had been involved in documenting Chardham and Ayodhya, and criticized the BJP's inconsistency in their stance towards her.
The controversy escalated with the arrest of a BJP worker, Sangram Patra, who raised objections to Jani's temple visit through a video clip shared on social media. Patra's arrest was reportedly related to a separate case registered in October regarding a defamatory post on social media about the Mission Shakti department's Scooter Yojana.
Both Jani and the Jagannath Temple administration responded to the controversy through their social media accounts. Jani refuted claims of consuming beef, stating that she has never eaten beef, while the temple administration denied the BJP's allegations about Jani's entry with a camera.
The incident has caused a stir, with both political parties engaging in a war of words, emphasizing the sensitivity surrounding religious practices and temple sanctity, as well as the political implications of social media personalities' involvement in such matters.
(With Agency Inputs)
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