Opposition leaders visit riot-hit Kandhamal

The Hindu
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Bhubaneswar (PTI): A day after the Orissa government lifted restriction on visit of politicians to the riot-hit Kandhamal district, a delegation of six Opposition parties on Saturday visited the affected areas even as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the situation and announced reconstruction of houses on a priority basis.

Senior Opposition leaders comprising Congress, NCP, CPI, CPI(M), RJD and JMM arrived at the district headquarter town of Phulbani before visiting worst-affected villages of Barakhama and Brahamigaon. The team was expected to return to the state capital on Sunday.

"We are going to see what actually happened in Kandhamal district. We feel government is hiding a lot by putting restriction on the visit of political persons," NCP leader Bijay Mohapatra said.

The Opposition leaders, including OPCC Chief Jayadev Jena and former chief minister Hemananda Biswal, described the government's restriction on politicians' visit as "undemocratic".

Jena also strongly criticised the Chief Minister for undertaking a sudden tour to Kandhamal before government announced lifting of restriction on the visit of politicians.

Reacting to the Chief Minister's appeal to all parties to refrain from making any speech or statement which would disturb the peace process, Mohapatra said the senior leaders of Opposition parties were "more sensible" than a "non-Oriya" speaking chief minister.

"It is a shame on part of Naveen to preach to senior leaders on the peace process," Mohapatra said.