A row has erupted over social media influencer Kamiya Jani’s go to to the Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha with the Bharatiya Janta Get together (BJP) searching for her arrest. The saffron get together has questioned how an alleged promoter of beef consumption was allowed to enter the twelfth century shrine in Puri, the place entry of non-Hindus is strictly prohibited. All of it got here forth after Jani uploaded a video of her go to to the temple the place she could possibly be seen with CM Naveen Patnaik’s strongman and bureaucrat-turned BJD chief VK Pandian.
Who Is Kamiya Jani?
Kamiya Jani is the founding father of Curly Tales, a platform boasting content material of meals and journey, and is a social media influencer who additionally makes movies with actors and sports activities individuals amongst others. She has 756k followers on her Instagram profile whereas Curly Tales has 1.4 million followers. She travels to locations and tries totally different native cuisines and shares the identical for her followers to see and make observe of in case they journey to those locations.
Jani has talked about on her Instagram bio that she is a Cultural Model Ambassador of India and has been to 172 locations.
She lately visited Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri the place she was seen having the ‘Mahaprasad’ and discussing its significance, the continued heritage hall challenge and different features linked to temple growth with Pandian.
BJP Seeks Her Arrest
In the meantime, the BJP requested how an alleged beef promoter entered the temple and added that she damage the feelings of Jagannath devotees. The get together additionally demanded her and Pandian’s arrest within the matter.
“BJD chief VK Pandian visited Jagannath Temple with a social media affect Kamiya Jani and had prasad within the premises of the temple together with her. The influencer is understood to have promoted beef consumption and such persons are not allowed to enter the temple. This has damage the feelings of Jagannath devotees and each of them ought to be arrested,” says Odisha BJP normal secretary Jatin Mohanty.
VIDEO | “BJD chief VK Pandian visited Jagannath Temple with a social media affect Kamiya Jani and had prasad within the premises of the temple together with her. The influencer is understood to have promoted beef consumption and such persons are not allowed to enter the temple. This has damage… pic.twitter.com/Po7W7IuIYM
— Press Belief of India (@PTI_News) December 22, 2023
Mohanty additionally alleged {that a} video digicam was used on the temple premises which is banned by Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
Mohanty demanded the registration of a case in opposition to Pandian and Jani by SJTA below IPC Part 295 A for hurting non secular sentiment of individuals. He additionally alleged that Pandian facilitated Jani’s entry into the temple.
“Social media influencer Kamiya Jani is a promoter of beef consumption. As per the legislation of Srimandir, no beef-eater might enter the temple with out ‘prayaschita’ (penance). Pandian has facilitated the entry of Jani into the temple. The incident has damage the feelings of crores of Hindus and devotees of Lord Jagannath,” Mohanty advised reporters, quoted PTI.
Jani Responds To Controversy
Amid the row, Kamiya Jani took her Instagram story and talked about that she has been visiting all of the Jyotirlingas and char dhams within the nation as she is an Indian. Nevertheless, mentioning that an article has been printed in a newspaper over her go to, she stated has by no means consumed beef.
“As an Indian, my mission is to take Indian tradition and heritage to the world. I’ve been visiting all of the Jyotirlingas and char dhams of India and what a privilege it’s been. Woke as much as this unusual article within the newspaper questioning my go to to Jagannath temple. Not that anybody has reached out to me however simply right here to make clear that I don’t and have by no means eaten Beef. Jai Jagannath,” she stated.
Jagannath Temple’s Response To ‘Digicam Taken To Temple’ Claims
In the meantime, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration responded to the claims that stated the influencer took a digicam to the temple premises. “The allegation made by a sure political get together about YouTube influencer taking a digicam to the temple premises is totally baseless,” the temple administration wrote on X, previously Twitter.
“There isn’t any reality on this. If anybody has any proof, in the event that they current it, it is going to be investigated and needed motion will likely be taken,” it added.
Reacting to BJP’s costs, the BJD in a press convention stated the opposition get together was making baseless allegations and accused it of turning into illiberal over the event of the temple. The ruling get together in Odisha additionally clarified that Jani had taken ‘Mahaprasad’ at Radha Ballav ‘Mutt’ (monastery) and never contained in the temple premises.