Karat demands directive to Orissa Govt

Hyderabad, Oct 7: CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat demanded that the Centre issue a directive to the Orissa Government under Article 355 of the Constitution to check the unabated violence against the minority community in strife-torn Kandhamal district.

Making it clear that his party was for use of Article 356 of the Constitution only under exceptional situations like the one witnessed after the demolition of Babri Masjid, he told a press conference here that the Centre should use the power to impose President's rule in a state only sparingly.

He demanded stringent action under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the Bajrang Dal, which was allegedly behind the violent attacks against the minority community in Orissa and Karnataka.

He alleged that the BJP was 'fomenting' communal trouble all over the country with an eye on the general elections.

Alleging that the Centre was not acting swiftly to stop the communal violence in Orissa, he said it should also give a directive to the Naveen Patnaik Government on the deployment of Paramilitary forces and ensure the arrest of those responsible for the atrocities on the members of the minority community.

All cases relating to the communal violence should be probed by the CBI, he added.

UNI