An open Letter to the Chief Minister of Orissa by Sudarsan Das

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Dear Honorable Chief Minister:

Please accept my regards. I don't know if at all, you will read this letter or not. But I am writing this letter to you on behalf of the people of Orissa. May be someone will read it to you.
You may well ask me, where do I get the audacity to write to you, on behalf of the people of Orissa? Who or what gave me the authority? Well, a few days back you visited the riot affected, Kandhamal. We have been told, while you were touring the torched villages, turned to graveyards, an affected old destitute woman came to you, held your hand, and cried disconsolately. The heart rending cry of that old woman and the tragic circumstances melted your heart, and tears rolled down your cheeks. The media head lines next day went hoarse " The Chief Minister, cried". On return to Bhubaneswar with a heavy heart you told the media: "The incidents of Kandhamal are the most unfortunate event during my administration".

Not only you but majority of the Orissan public think that way. The incidents of Kandhamal have affected them deeply. The compassion in their hearts, as your's, have rolled down as tears. The people of the State have been deeply saddened by the recent communal incidents, in Kandhamal. The combined gash of their hearts and tears of their eyes, is the source of audacity, that has culminated in writing of this letter.

There is no space here to analyze the recent happenings in the Kandhamal district of Odisa nor the consequent situation. Neither is there any necessity of such analysis. As Home Minister of the state, you are fully informed of every thing, if not you are damned. Who in the state is more aware than you of the conspirators and conspiracies, going on in the state? Probably you are still unaware of those who murdered Swami Laxmanananda. But if you claim to be unawares, as to who are behind the subsequent mayhem and violence, no one will believe you. Thus the legitimate question comes to mind, as to whether you are feigning ignorance and you support these beastly acts or you have become a helpless victim of the circumstances? In our culture tears in the eyes, are usually considered an expression of helplessness. One wonders, if the tears that rolled down you cheek in Kandhamal district, is expression of any such helplessness?

You are a very well read man. Thus I am sure you are not aware of the history of Indian communal violence. It becomes evident from the history of Indian communal violence that, main reason of riots is: Government inaction.. Of course Gujarat is a rare exception where, official encouragement was behind the riots. But in most places, riots become uncontrollable when and where Government fails to instill the fear of law in the minds of the rioters. When Government fails to instill confidence in the mind of the affected public and take steps to create fear of Law in the mind of the rioters, it is self-evident that riots will spread. Strict Government action alone, impedes riots and rioters. In this regard in September 1957, the then Prime Minister of India, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, had written a letter to the then Chief Ministers, which I quote. Invoking them to resist people involved in communal violence and hate, he
wrote, "The issue should be fronted with strong action, as early as possible. The violators of law should be arrested and enterned, asap. People should believe that Government has no soft corner for the rioters. Unhappy at the administrative actions taken, Nehru further wrote, "We have slowed down in this regard. Thus the problem has continued to escalate. The main promoters of poison of communal hatred, the mischief mongers and goons, are thus continuing their work, unhindered. Yet, when the issue comes to a boil, a few innocent are arrested, the master minds escape the persecution. We observe the deviations from these guide lines, in Nehru's own time in office. But relevance of that letter and invocation is still paramount, particularly in light of the current communal violence in the Kandhamal. Will you Sir, not admit the fact, that administrative inaction is largely responsible for the Kandhamal riot & violence? If one analyses
the sequence of events from last December till today, one comes to the clear conclusion that YOUR Government, has not to taken the measures necessary to prevent spread of communal hatred and consequent violence. Rather your Government has remained a silent spectator. Do you have any evidence, rationale or argument, to counter this widespread, public perception?
Now this communal hatred and violence has spread to the rest of rural Orissa. The fire of communalism in Kandhamal has also spread to other states of India, like Karnataka & Kerala. Not only will this amber of communalism engulf the civil society & ordinary innocent citizens, but it's smoke will soon choke you and your Government, if you don't act. The fire of communal hatred has already touched you. The rioters have started attacking your police and have fired on your police. The perpetrators of communal politics have started pointing fingers at you, taking the advantage of your dormancy and silence. The honchos of communal politics have called upon you to resign. Is it not enough warning for you Sir, to be circumspect?

Your tears will rid you of your anguish & agony but will not relieve public of the torment & tribulations. Encouraging people and organizations seeding communal hatred may retain your power but history will not forgive you. On a personal level, we know, you have stayed far above communalism. We have rarely seen you in any religious gathering. So it beats us, as to why you are you favoring & harboring this brutality and bestiality in the name of religion? What is the reason for your vulnerability & feeble action against the rioters?

Majority of Orissans are religious but are not communal. Even today they are free from communal hatred and malice. Communal amity still prevails here. But the individuals & organizations, undermining this amity need to be brought to book, with a strong hand, pronto. Else the situation will soon go out of hand. Actually, we are inching closer toward such a reality. And if you fail to act and face the situation boldly, you will remain an accused in the courts of history.
Yours faithfully,
A friend of communal amity