New Delhi/IBNS: Congress top leader Rahul Gandhi has slammed BJP's Lok Sabha poll candidate from Odisha's Puri for calling Lord Jagannath as the "Bhakt" or a devotee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In an X post, Rahul said, "When the Prime Minister starts considering himself as an emperor and the courtiers start considering him as God, then it is clear that the downfall of the Lanka of sin is near.

"Who gave a handful of BJP people the right to hurt the sentiments of crores of people? This ego is becoming the cause of their destruction."

After his remark stirred a row, Patra claimed it was a "slip of tongue".

"It was a slip of tongue. No normal person can make such a remark. It was a mistake," said Patra in his clarification. 

Photo courtesy: Sambit Patra Facebook page

His remarks drew immediate condemnation from Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is hoping for a sixth consecutive term in the state, which is going into assembly elections along with Lok Sabha polls.

"Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha is the Lord of Universe. Calling Mahaprabhu a bhakt of another human being is an insult to the Lord. This has hurt the sentiments and demeaned the faith of crores of Jagannatha bhaktas and Odias across the world," Patnaik posted on social media.

"The Lord is the greatest Symbol of Odia Asmita. Calling Mahaprabhu a bhakt of another human being is totally condemnable. I strongly denounce the statement made by the BJP Puri Lok Sabha candidate and I appeal to the BJP to keep the Lord above any political discourse. By this you have deeply hurt Odia Asmita and this will be remembered and condemned by people of Odisha for a very long time," his post read.

Several netizens have demanded a public apology from the BJP leader.