**Bhubaneswar:** It is not the first time Abhijit Iyer Mitra, a close associate of former Kendrapada MP Baijayant Panda, has made derogatory remarks against Odisha and its culture.
In a tweet published by him in November 2017, which he later deleted, Abhijit claims that the then ‘Orissa’ was discovered by Bengali explorers and Jagannath temple was built by shamed Tamil servants.
Abhijit’s tweet read: “Pff!!
1: Orissa itself was discovered by Bengali explorers. The remarked “Ori Shala!!!” And it was named OriSha
2: Jaganath temple built by the Gangas, who were disgraced Pallava Tamil retainers
3: no such thing as Orissa, just the wild southern provinces of undivided Bengal”
The irony here is the tweet was in remark of a tweet of Baijayant where the former MP has backed the cause of Rasagula’s origin in Odisha, stating the sweet has been served in the State long before neighbouring State West Bengal came into existence.
Yes, we do: the Jagannath temple. At Puri, remember? Where pilgrims from a neighbouring state flock in the millions. And where for millennia, even before the present temple was built, rasgula has been served. Long before, ahem, said neighbouring state came into existence ???? https://t.co/NRptEnQQMN
— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) November 16, 2017
In another tweet, Abhijit had stated, “Oriya propaganda!!!! Jagannath was actually a diety of Kolkata, idol stolen by evil kalinga demon kings”
After the recent video posted on twitter handle by Abhijit, where he had made fun of the architecture at the world famous Konark Sun Temple, invited criticism from various fronts, Baijayant in reply to a twitterati stated it as an immature thing to do.
It was an immature thing to do. He may have been trying satire, & perhaps meant the opposite of what some ppl concluded, but sarcasm doesn’t fit well w/religious & cultural sentiments, which call for sensitivity. Of course, it goes without saying i take pride in our heritage ???????? https://t.co/XSozxCU6lP
— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) September 18, 2018
Yesterday, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra had expressed his resentment over the video and comments posted on twitter and urged the State Government to take immediate action on it.
**Also Read:** [Odisha Reacts To Insensitive Remarks By Jay Panda’s Aide On Konark Architecture](https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-reacts-to-insensitive-remarks-by-jay-panda-s-aide-on-konark-architecture-)
