Rahul to address rally in riot-hit Kandhamal on Wednesday

Kandhamal, Apr. 7 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi will campaign in Orissa's riot-hit Kandhamal District on Wednesday.

Kandhamal District witnessed the killing of several Christians and the burning of several houses and churches following the murder of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati.

On August 25th, a 29-year-old Catholic nun was allegedly raped and a priest assaulted at Baliguda during a shutdown in Orissa.

Gandhi will attend meetings at Rourkela, Rairakhole and Sonepur on Tuesday before attending two more at Baliguda in Kandhamnal and Dharmagarh in Kalahandi district on April 8.

The district administration has strengthened security at Baliguda, the epicentre of last year's communal riots.

According to sources, the BJP has decided to bring Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to divert the people's attention from Gandhi's address on the same day.

"Modiji is coming to Orissa for few hours on Wednesday. But it is yet to be decided whether he will go to Kandhamal," BJP state president Suresh Pujari said. (ANI)