Controversy Over Kamiya Jani Escalates, BJD Asks BJP – If Video On Ram Temple Is Right, Then How Jagannath Temple Is Wrong?

Kamiya Jani, a social media influencer and founder of Curly Tales, had a conversation with bureaucrat-turned-BJD leader VK Pandian at the Jagannath temple complex recently.  A controversy erupted after a video of the conversation went viral on social media. The Odisha unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised objections saying Kamiya Jani is “known for promoting beef” and how she was allowed to enter the iconic temple in Puri.

The viral video shows Kamiya Jani along with BJD leader Pandian promoting the Puri Shree Mandir Heritage Corridor project and Mahaprasad. Reacting to the video, Odisha BJP said the incident has hurt the religious sentiments of lakhs of Hindus and objected to the video being shot from the temple premises.

What did Giriraj Singh and Dharmendra Pradhan say?

Union minister Giriraj Singh on Friday accused V K Pandian and Kamiya Jani of disturbing the sanctity of the 12th-century temple. “By facilitating the entry of a beef preacher into the revered temple, VK Pandian has shown extreme disregard for religion,  history, and spirituality,” he wrote on X, demanding immediate and strict action against those responsible.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was present in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, said in a statement issued on X, “Lord Jagannath is the center of faith for all Odia people and Sanatanis. Therefore, no action should be done knowingly or unknowingly to hurt the sentiments of people. No one should play with the unwavering love, devotion, and reverence of the people of Odisha towards God.” He refrained from naming Kamiya Jani in his statement.

The BJP Units of Odisha Protest!

Calling for immediate action, the BJP demanded the registration of a case against Pandian and Jani under section 295A  of the IPC and demanded their immediate arrest. “The sanctity of Puri Srimandir, which is rich in historical and spiritual heritage, has been shamefully disregarded by 5T chairman VK Pandian, who allowed the beef promoter to enter the iconic premises of the Jagannath temple,” the Odisha BJP wrote on its official ‘X’.

BJP further Tweeted, “@bjd_odisha indifferent to the sentiments of Oriya and the sanctity of Jagannath culture! Those responsible will face swift and severe consequences.” The party also shared a screenshot of Kamiya Jani’s old video in which she is seen promoting a “beef dish”. After the controversy arose, Kamiya Jani has also given her clarification on this matter. The social media influencer said in her Instagram story that she has never eaten beef.

How did the whole controversy start?

This whole controversy started after a video surfaced on Kamiya Jani’s YouTube channel. In it, Kamiya Jani was seen interacting with bureaucrat-turned-politician VK Pandian. Pandian is seen as the successor to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. In this video, Kamiya Jani is talking with him and is also receiving ‘Mahaprasad’. The BJP has questioned Kamiya Jani’s entry into the temple and carrying the camera even after the ban.

The BJP has asked that the camera be banned by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration  (SJTA), then how did the permission come? Kamiya Jani had shot a video with BJD leader VK Pandian about taking Mahaprasad at Jagannath temple. According to Odisha BJP general secretary Jatin Mohanty, Kamiya Jani had earlier posted a video eating beef. Those eating beef are strictly prohibited from entering the Jagannath temple.

We have urged that a case under 295 IPC should be registered against her for hurting the religious sentiments of a community,” he said. “If she is not arrested, we will approach the court.”

What’s in this video of Kamiya Jani?

Moreover, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) also issued a statement saying that no video cameras were allowed inside the temple, as alleged.  If there is any evidence proving the use of cameras inside the temple, the SJTA will take action. Kamiya Jani’s video, which has sparked controversy, highlights the Jagannath culture and shows VK Pandian speaking on the importance of ‘Mahaprasad’,  the ongoing heritage corridor project, and other aspects related to the development of the temple.

During his visit to Koraput, VK Pandian refused to comment on the issue and parried questions by saying ‘Jai Jagannath’.

I don’t eat beef: Kamiya Jani

Kamiya Jani wrote, “As an Indian, my mission is to take Indian culture and heritage to the world. I have visited all the Jyotirlingas and Char Dhams of India and what a privilege. I was eye-popped by this news questioning my visit to Jagannath temple. I just want to clarify that I don’t eat beef and I have never eaten beef either. Jai Jagannath,” She said.

Kamiya Jani has clarified the controversy over her entry into the Jagannath temple. Kamiya Jani said she is a Hindu and has never eaten beef or promoted it. Kamiya Jani is being described as non-Hindu, after which she clarified that she is a Hindu and not a Muslim.

The BJD has fielded bureaucrat-turned-politician V. K Pandian of the Biju Janata Dal  (BJD) for Kamiya Jani. K. Pandian has been accused of helping Jani to enter the temple. “My motive behind visiting Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri was to seek blessings of the Lord and inform people about the development of temple infrastructure. Unfortunately, my visit has been mired in controversy.”, Kamiya Jani Published a Video on it.

How Kamiya Jani Got entry?

The BJD has fielded bureaucrat-turned-politician V K Pandian of the Biju Janata Dal  (BJD) For Kamiy Jani. Pandian has been accused of helping Jani to enter the temple. “My motive behind visiting Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri was to seek blessings of the Lord and inform people about the development of temple infrastructure. Unfortunately, my visit has been mired in controversy.”, Kamiya Jani Published a Video on it.

Noting that the temple administration has its own rules, Kamiya Jani said, “I want to clarify that I have not broken any rule. I am a Hindu. I have never eaten beef nor promoted it.’ Kamiya Jani said that as a food blogger, she made people aware of the local cuisine of different places and the same has happened in this video is related to Kerala, whose screenshots are being used. “It could be a misunderstanding,” She said in the video. This explanation is meant to eliminate misunderstandings.’

Raed AlsoPuri Shankaracharya Refused to Attend Ram Mandir Inauguration on 22nd Jan!

BJD  asked BJP – if the video on the Ram temple is correct, then how is Jagannath wrong?

The BJD accused the BJP of raising the matter unnecessarily, saying that Kamiya Jani has also made videos in the Ram temple, Ujjain Mahakal temple, and Char Dham. The BJP did not object then, on the contrary, PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have praised the Curly Tales founder. The matter took a political turn when the BJP accused former IAS and BJD leader VK Pandian of helping Kamiya Jani get permission to enter the Jagannath temple and shoot the video.

The ruling BJD has defended V K Pandian and the Curly Tales founder. BJD MP Manas Mangaraj on Friday asked how Jani’s work on the Jagannath temple went wrong when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised his videos on Ayodhya’s Ram temple, Ujjain’s Mahakal temple and Char Dham.

BJD Rajya Sabha MP Manas Mangaraj immediately reacted to Pradhan’s statement and commented on his X post and wrote, “Dharmendra Pradhan bhai you have said the right thing,  even if late. Mahaprabhu Jagannath is the center of the spirituality of devotees of Odisha and other states. You must have also observed that for the last two or three days, some leaders of your party have tried to defame Odisha and our holy shrine. The central government earlier appointed women social media influencers to promote the heritage and culture of Hindu temples in the country.

“However, when he made a video on the Jagannath Heritage Corridor project, immediately your leaders tried to defame him through fake news and fake videos. If it is right for Kamiya Jani to promote the Ram temple, then what is the problem in making a video about the Jagannath Heritage Corridor project? I hope you take action against BJP leaders of Odisha who have played with the sentiments of the people through fake news.”

BJP retaliates again

Soon after Mangaraj’s post, Pradhan’s close aide and BJP MLA Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra wrote X, “The more you try to hide the truth, the more you expose it.  …Are you justifying the promotion of Mahaprasad by someone who is promoting beef?”

Meanwhile,  the Congress has also jumped into the controversy. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Sarat Patnaik and party’s campaign committee chairman Bijay Patnaik asked who had asked VK Pandian to take Kamiya Jani inside the temple. “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should apologize to the people of Odisha if he had issued any directives in this regard,” the Congress leaders said. As the matter caught fire, Kamiya Jani defended her Jagannath temple visit in a social media post on Thursday.

BJP demands the arrest of Kamiya Jani

A controversy has arisen in Odisha over Kamiya Jani, who has interviewed the country’s famous YouTuber and many big personalities. The BJP has attacked the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD),  demanding the arrest of Kamiya Jane. The party demanded that Kamiya Jani, a YouTuber who supports beef and promotes its consumption, be allowed entry into the Shree Jagannath temple.

The BJP said in its statement how an alleged promoter of beef consumption was allowed to enter the 12th-century temple. Odisha BJP general secretary Jatin Mohanty demanded the arrest of the YouTuber under Section  295 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus. Odisha BJP general secretary Jatin Mohanty demanded the arrest of the YouTuber under Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus.

New rules for Jagannath temple in Odisha to get entry

Devotees wearing certain attire have been banned from entering the Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha. Devotees wearing shorts, torn jeans, skirts, and sleeveless clothes have been banned from entering the 12th-century shrine, the temple administration said.  A ‘dress code’ has also been made mandatory for them. Not only this,  the temple administration has also completely banned eating gutka and paan and using plastic and polythene in the temple premises from the  New Year.

Devotees will have to wear   “decent clothes” to enter the temple, an official of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA)  said on Monday. He said that if a devotee comes wearing half pants, shorts, skirt, torn jeans or sleeveless clothes,  then such people will not be allowed to enter the temple.

Men wore dhoti-towels, and women wore sarees

This rule was announced earlier by the temple administration. After the implementation of this rule, on Monday, the first day of the year  2024, male devotees coming to the temple were seen wearing dhoti and towels,  while women were seen in sarees or salwar-kameez. To maintain the sanctity of the temple, eating gutka and paan has been banned in the temple premises, the official said. Fines are being imposed on people who violate it.

At Last From aAditri Digital

While the Bharatiya Janata Party’s concerns are valid, they should spark a constructive dialogue rather than an immediate call for arrest. The differing views on Kamiya Jani’s temple entry prompt essential questions about the consistent application of rules, particularly regarding the use of cameras within temple premises.

In a broader context, reflecting on the recent dress code changes for the Jagannath temple signifies a commitment to maintaining sanctity. Rules governing attire and the prohibition of specific items contribute to preserving the temple’s sacred atmosphere.

This controversy serves as an opportunity for dialogue and understanding among diverse perspectives. Embracing inclusivity and appreciating the richness of India’s cultural tapestry can pave the way for unity and respect across varied beliefs. Shifting the focus toward constructive discussions will promote harmony and mutual understanding among communities, fostering a spirit of collective reverence.

Who is Kamiya Jani?

Kamiya Jani, a social media influencer and founder of Curly Tales.

When were the New rules applied in Jagganath Temple?

It is strictly applied from 1st Jan’24.