YouTuber Kamiya Jani’s visit to the Jagannath Temple in Puri sparked a political controversy this week, with the BJP accusing the state government of enabling the entry of a “beef consumption promoter.” In response, the influencer released a statement, asserting her identity as a practicing Hindu and denying any involvement in promoting or consuming beef.
In a video on her Instagram page, Ms. Jani clarified her intentions behind visiting Jagannath Temple, stating, “My motive behind going to Jagannath was to seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath and present information about the temple’s infrastructure. I am a practicing Hindu. I have never eaten beef and don’t promote it ever.” She emphasized her pride in being an Indian and affirmed that the incident would not diminish her respect for the country’s rich culture.
The controversy arose when Ms. Jani posted a video showcasing Shree Jagannath’s culture, featuring VK Pandian, a bureaucrat-turned-BJD leader, discussing the importance of ‘Mahaprasad’ and the heritage corridor project linked to temple development. The BJP accused the BJD leader of facilitating Ms. Jani’s entry into the temple, given her alleged promotion of beef consumption on her YouTube channel, a place where non-Hindus are prohibited.
The Odisha unit of BJP expressed its concerns on social media, stating, “The sacred sanctity of Puri Srimandir…has been shamefully disregarded…Those responsible must face swift and severe consequences.”
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Ms. Jani responded to the allegations, explaining that photos of her at a restaurant serving beef were from a video shot in Kerala. She clarified, “Screenshots of one such video of mine, which was shot in Kerala, are being used. The story was about two truck drivers who started an outlet in Kerala, and their beef dish has become a hit. Since I do not eat beef, I had veg black chana curry, rice appam, and banana fritters.” She urged people to understand the context and hoped her clarification would reach those who were hurt by the misunderstanding.
The BJD countered the BJP’s accusations by pointing out that several of their party leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had promoted Kamiya Jani’s documentary on Hindu heritage and temples.