Union Minister demands CBI probe into Kandhmal violence

Bhubaneswar, Aug 30 (UNI) Union Minister of state for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Sahu today demanded the assassination of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and subsequent violence in Orissa be handed over to CBI for an expeditious probe.

A CBI probe into the incident could immediately bring justice to the perpetrators of the heinous crime, the Union Minister said adding that if Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik truely believed in secularism he should lose no time to further and ordered for a CBI probe.

The Union Minister demanded that the Chief Minister should rise to the occasion at this moment and take a decision to uphold the fair name of Orissa.

Already enough damage has been done to the state and Orissa has come under the scanner of communal carnage throughout the world, Mr.Sahu said.

Coming down heavily on the BJP, the Union Minister said the ugly hand of the BJP was clearly visible and the party besides the Sangh parivar must withdraw their statement alleging Congress hand in the assassination and tender a public apology.

He said the unfortunate incident of the killing of Swamiji has been followed by a trail of devastation not only in Kandhmal district but also in other parts of Orissa. The violence, he further said had spread to other areas which were known for their religious harmony and brotherhood.

Mr Sahu alleged that the sangh parivar wanted to polarise the peace loving people of Orissa on religion like Gujrat to derive maximum political benefit.

He urged the state government to make immediate measures for the rehabilitation of the affected people of all community and provide compensation to build the places of worships and houses damaged in the violence. The government, he further said must see that the minorities live in the state without any fear.

UNI DP AB 2236