Centre not to tolerate communal violence in Orissa: PM

New Delhi, Dec 31 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured Ms Gladys Staines that the Centre would not tolerate communal violence in Orissa or any other part of the country.

Responding to a letter of Ms Staines, whose husband Graham Staines was killed in Orissa a few years ago, Dr Singh said the Centre would take all necessary steps to protect all citizens irrespective of community or caste in accordance with the law of the land.

Ms Staines had expressed concern over the recent communal violence in Orissa.

''I have received your letter of December 20, 2007 expressing anguish at the recent incidents in Orissa. We are taking all steps to ensure the restoration of normalcy and to bring about harmony and peace in the affected areas.'' Dr Singh said he spoke to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard yesterday.

''I assure you that the Government of India will take all necessary steps to safeguard the fundamental rights and liberties of all sections of our society and protect their religious freedoms as enshrined in the constitution.

''Please be assured that we will not tolerate any efforts aimed at disturbing the communal harmony or secular fabric of our country,'' the Prime Minister said in the letter, written yesterday and released to the press today.

UNI