Orissa govt failed to contain violence: Ravi

Kozhikode, Sep 1 (UNI) Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi today alleged that despite all possible Central assistance, the Orissa government virtually failed to contain violence in the state.

Talking to newspersons after presenting media awards instituted by the Calicut Press Club here, he said the Naveen Patnaik administration seemed to be unable to prevent attacks on the minorities despite the deployment of large contigents of Central para-military forces to that state.

Accusing the Bajrang Dal of unleashing attacks on places of worship of the minorities there, Mr Ravi said these forces were interested only in inciting violence in the country.

Describing Bajrang Dal and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) as both sides of the same coin, he said these forces were inciting violence against which widespread protests were growing in various parts of the country.

Urging the Orissa government to take immediates steps to curb atrocities on minorities, he said the Centre would not hesitate to intervene if the local administration failed to give result.

However, Mr Ravi refused to divulge what kind of intervention the Centre was contemplating to curb violence in that state.

UNI PCH SP PM1800