BJD moves ECI against Sambit Patra for using Puri temple’s photo in advertisement | Bhubaneswar News
BHUBANESWAR: Despite issuing an apology and announcing to observe a three-day fast to repent for his controversial remark on Lord Jagannath on Monday, trouble seems to be far from over for BJP national spokesperson and Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sambit Patra.
On Wednesday, BJD moved the Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking action against Patra for using a photo of Jagannath Temple with the party symbol lotus in an advertisement he issued in newspapers.
On Monday, Patra kicked up a storm by describing Lord Jagannath as a bhakt of Modi. Patra later regretted his slip of tongue.
“Patra’s full page advertisement has violated MCC. He used the photo of Jagannath Temple with the party symbol. He has dragged temple and religion into politics,” said Sulata Deo, BJD Rajya Sabha member.
BJD mailed a five-page memorandum to the chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar, seeking action against Patra. The BJD demanded a thorough inspection of Patra’s election expenditure on his advertisement and Modi’s recent roadshow for him at Puri.
While Patra did not respond to phone calls and messages for his comment on BJD moving the ECI against him, this development coincided with the poll panel slamming BJP and Congress for violation of model code of conduct (MCC) by their star campaigners in different parts of the country. The ECI also instructed parties not to make speeches along religious or communal lines.
In a related development, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera, while addressing media here on Wednesday took a jibe at Patra for hurting the sentiments of Jagannath followers.
On Wednesday, BJD moved the Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking action against Patra for using a photo of Jagannath Temple with the party symbol lotus in an advertisement he issued in newspapers.
On Monday, Patra kicked up a storm by describing Lord Jagannath as a bhakt of Modi. Patra later regretted his slip of tongue.
“Patra’s full page advertisement has violated MCC. He used the photo of Jagannath Temple with the party symbol. He has dragged temple and religion into politics,” said Sulata Deo, BJD Rajya Sabha member.
BJD mailed a five-page memorandum to the chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar, seeking action against Patra. The BJD demanded a thorough inspection of Patra’s election expenditure on his advertisement and Modi’s recent roadshow for him at Puri.
While Patra did not respond to phone calls and messages for his comment on BJD moving the ECI against him, this development coincided with the poll panel slamming BJP and Congress for violation of model code of conduct (MCC) by their star campaigners in different parts of the country. The ECI also instructed parties not to make speeches along religious or communal lines.
In a related development, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera, while addressing media here on Wednesday took a jibe at Patra for hurting the sentiments of Jagannath followers.
