BHUBANESWAR | Thursday, December 27, 2007 | Email | Print | 
RSS wing blames Cong MP for triggering communal tension in Kandhamal
Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar
The Hindu Jagaran Sammukhya (HJS), a frontal organisation of the RSS, on Wednesday blamed Congress Rajya Sabha member and World Vision chief Radhakanta Nayak for the violence in Kandhamal and demanded immediate action against him.
Addressing a Press conference here, HJS joint organising secretary Basudev Barik, Sampark pramukha SP Acharya, State spokesman Simanchal Khatua and joint secretary Ajit Patnaik condemned the attack on Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and threatened of a mass agitation over the issue. "World Vision NGO and it chief Nayak, who is also a Rajya Sabha member of the Congress was the main conspirator in the issue and attack on Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, was a pre-planned effort by Nayak and his men," they said. State Government should impose ban on the NGO, working for religious conversion, the Sammukhya demanded.
Asked about legal action against MP Nayak, they said that Sammukhya is exploring options to take legal action against those who are conspiring against the Hindus in Phulbani district. Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati also accused the Congress MP for the violence and attack on him. "Their attack was aimed at eliminating me," he said, adding this was for the seventh time that they failed to kill him. Saraswati, who is a member of the VHP's margadarshak mandali, was attacked by a mob while he was on his way to Brahmanigaom. His driver and personal security guard were seriously injured in the incident and his car badly damaged.
While Saraswati was initially admitted at Darinigibadi Government Hospital, his security guard was rushed to M KCG Medical College Hospital at Berhampur. Sources said that the district administration of Kandhamal preferred to shift Saraswati to SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack apprehending more danger due to presence of the VHP leader in Daringibadi. VHP sources informed The Pioneer that the Swami's health condition is improving.
Meanwhile, reacting to the issue, Samruddha Odisha State president Jatish Chandra Mohanty blamed the State Government for its failure to maintain the law and order in the district. "Our party has urged all political parties not to politicise the issue and the State Government should invite people of both communities for discussions on a common platform to workout the problems," Mohanty said.
The Chief Minister should ensure communal harmony in the district, Mohanty said. "It was a very unfortunate incident and all should come forward for an amicable solution," he added.
However, the State unit of the All India Christian Council blamed the State Government for the attacks on churches and Christian organisations in Kandhamal district, saying the action initiated by the administration was inadequate.
"The Government does not appear to have taken the matter seriously and the slackness on the part of the administration is evident," council State president, Rev Pran Ranjan Parichha said.
Parichha alleged that all the trouble had been fermented by Hindu fundamentalist groups. "This is the first time in Orissa's history that church services could not be held on the Christmas Day despite police presence," Parichha rued.
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