Youtuber and food blogger, Kamiya Jani also renowned for her social media handle, Curly Tales, has addressed the recent uproar surrounding her visit to the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. In a video posted on Instagram, she emphasized her identity as a practicing Hindu who has never consumed or promoted beef. Jani also explained that her visit to the 12th-century temple was motivated by a desire to seek the Lord's blessings and share insights into the shrine's infrastructure.
Expressing regret that her visit had become a contentious issue, Jani sought to clarify her intentions and dispel any misconceptions that arose from her visit, which was documented and shared on social media.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly condemned Jani's visit, labeling her as a "beef eater" and questioning her entry into a Hindu-only shrine. They called for action against Jani and VK Pandian, a bureaucrat-turned-Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader, who allegedly facilitated her visit.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh criticized Pandian for allowing Jani's entry into the revered shrine, accusing him of disrespecting its sanctity. Singh urged immediate action against those responsible, expressing deep concern over the incident.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan issued a carefully worded statement, emphasizing the significance of Lord Jagannath in the lives of Odias and Sanatanis. He stressed the need to avoid actions that could inadvertently hurt the sentiments of people, refraining from directly addressing Jani's visit.
In response to the BJP's objections, the BJD raised questions, pointing out instances where the BJP government had engaged Jani to create documentaries on Hindu heritage and temples, including visits to revered sites like Chardham and Ayodhya.
Despite Jani issuing clarifications on two occasions, Pandian distanced himself from the matter and declined to provide further comments, simply stating, "Jai Jagannath."