Centre to consider President's rule in Orissa

Kozhikode, Aug 29 (UNI) The Centre will consider invoking President's rule in Orissa if the Naveen Patnaik administration failed to quell violence in the state , All India Congress Committee (AICC) Media Cell Convenor M Veerappa Moily said today.

''There are constitutional methods, but it will be used as a last resort,'' Mr Moily, who was here for a book release, told mediapersons.

However, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had directed the Orissa Chief Minister to take immediate steps to curb the violence which claimed many lives in Kandhamal district following the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmananand Saraswati and his disciples.

Blaming the saffron brigade for the communal flare up after the death of the VHP leader on August 23, he said the situation continues to be tense in the state forcing thousands of minorities to flee from their homeland.

''The BJP is playing the Hindutva card eyeing the coming general elections in the country,'' he said.

He alleged that the BJP was adopting the same policy in Jammu and Kashmir on the Amarnath temple land allocation issue to meet its political agenda.

The BJP even wanted to bifurcate the Jammu and Kashmir into three separate regions, Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir, but the Congress would not allow its game plan to succeed as it favoured a united Kashmir, he added.

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