Bhubaneswar: Amid uproar across Odisha over social media influencer Kamiya Jani’s visit to the Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri, the food blogger has released a video making clarification regarding the controversy, which emerged as she had allegedly consumed and promoted beef.
“My aim behind visiting the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri was to seek blessing of the deity and inform people about the infrastructural development of the shrine. It is unfortunate that my visit has become controversial. I understand that the temple authorities have some rules. I want to clarify that I haven’t broken any rule. I am a practicing Hindu. I have neither consumed beef nor promoted it. As a food blogger, I have informed people about local cuisines of various places and that’s what happened in Kerala video, whose screenshots are being used. This might be a misunderstanding. This clarification is to put an end to the misunderstanding,” she said in the video.
The BJP had initially raised the issue questioning as to why a “beef eater” was allowed entry into the 12th century shrine. The party demanded the arrest of Jani and 5T Chairman VK Pandian for allegedly facilitating her visit to the temple.
The BJP alleged that Jani had earlier eaten beef and promoted the same on social media.
On the other hand, BJD MP Manas Mangaraj questioned the BJP for objecting to the visit of Jani to the Jaganath temple while the BJP government was making documentaries on temples partnering with Jani.
“BJP government appointed Kamiya Jani to make films on Hindu heritage and temples. She has gone to Chardham and Ayodhya to see Ram Lalla too. And all of you love her for that,” Mangaraj said.
