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PHULBANI: Life was never easy for Jamini Mallick. It has become difficult since the past eight months. Forced to shift from one relief camp to another, this native of a nondescript village in Raikia area of Kandhamal district does not talk about the need for development or poverty amelioration in her homeland although elections are around a week away. She, like many other victims of last year's ethno-communal riots, has one poll wish on her lips: "It should not accentuate the existing societal divide on religion lines."
But the policiticians do not seem to care much about such a wish. Can there be elections in present-day Kandhamal, which has become a laboratory for conversions and reconversions, without religion playing its part? Those who understand the realities at ground zero would definitely reply in the negative. And some of those contesting for either of the three Assembly seats in the district or for the Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency (also spanning neighbouring Boudh, Ganjam and Nayagarh districts) are, overtly or covertly, busy flashing the communal card to cater to their targeted vote banks.
"Religion is the issue in Kandhamal polls. It cannot be avoided," BJP's LS candidate Ashok Sahu said, in an honest admission. Sahu, state Hindu Jagaran Samukhya president, has been telling public gatherings how Christians plotted the August 23 murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and how conversions by Christian missionaries was the root cause of all discord in Kandhamal. Even BJP MLA Karendra Majhi, who is seeking reelection from Baliguda (ST) seat, has not minced words when it comes to hardselling the Hindutva agenda. Their speeches have not escaped the election observers' notice and both have already been served showcause notices, official sources said. The other two BJP nominees Manoj Pradhan (G Udayagiri) and Deba Narayan Pradhan (Phulbani) are also believed to be basing their campaigns on the communal plank, though nothing amiss have been found about their electioneering yet.
Incidentally, Manoj Pradhan, prime accused in the riots with over a dozen cases registered against him, is currently incarcerated and it is his diehard supporters who are doing the job for him.
While BJP's gameplan seems amply clear, BJD and Congress cannot claim to be holier-than-thou. These two parties might not match the saffron organization when it comes to identifying which religion they stand for, but by repeatedly dubbing BJP as "communal" and describing themselves as "secular", they seemingly want to woo the sizeable Christian community. "Christians usually prefer Congress as we are for safeguarding of minority interests. The BJD-BJP government did nothing to protect them during the riots. Ergo, we expect the Christians to vote for us to keep the communal BJP and opportunistic BJD out of power," a Congress man emphatically stated.
But BJD's LS candidate Rudramadhab Ray rubbishes it. "Everybody knows BJP was responsible for the riots and hence BJD dissociated itself from the saffron outfit. The Congress is good at playing divisive politics. BJD is true to secularism. Religion is not an issue for us. Both Hindu and Christian voters are supporting us," he asserted. BJD, apparently, to maintain religious parity has fielded candidates from both communities. If Dinesh Singh Pradhan (Baliguda) and Debendra Kanhar (Phulbani) are Hindus, then Loksuna Majhi (G Udayagiri) is a church-goer. Moreover, the entry of Christian leader Swarupananda Patra, a key minority voice during the riots, into the Naveen Patnaik party just ahead of polls had triggered controversy with BJP accusing BJD of favouring minorities.
Whatever the case, the truth about Kandhamal in Election 2009 is that it has become a high-profile constituency thanks to its communal conflict. If BJP national president Rajnath Singh has already paid a visit, then Congress' Rahul Gandhi would be doing so on Wednesday. While a trip by Naveen is a certainty, BJP still hopes that its trump card Narendra Modi (who couldn't make it on April 5) would show up before April 16, the date till which Jamini and others in Kandhamal's interiors would keep their fingers crossed, praying for nothing but peace.
Kandhamal victims demand postponement of polls
Kandhamal victims demand postponement of polls
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New Delhi (PTI): Victims of Kandhamal riots on Wednesday demanded postponing of the polls in the violence-hit area of Orissa, claiming that a large number of people were still living in the relief camps and would not be able to cast their votes.
A delegation of victims, which is in the national capital to meet the Election Commission members in this regard, said the commission should monitor the "hate speeches" being made by fundamentalists in the area.
"A large number of people are forced to live away from their homes as Hindu fundamentalists are threatening them. They are also making hate speeches against Christians to polarise the votes in the communally sensitive area," noted social activist Teesta Setalvad alleged.
They victims claimed that over 22,000 people, who have been displaced during the anti-Christian riots last year following the killing of Swami Laxmanand Sarswati, are still living in the relief camps and would not be able to cast their votes due to continued tense situation in the State.
The delegation also met National Human Rights Commission and UN Commissioner for Human Rights here and appraised them about the situation there.Maoists, not Christians behind killing of RSS leaders: Orissa DGP
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Bhubaneswar, March 20: The Orissa police today rejected the Sangh Parivar claim that Christians were behind the killing of RSS activists in the state and urged for peace in the communally sensitive Kandhamal and elsewhere in Orissa.
"Police have got specific indication of Naxal involvement in the killing of Pravat Panigrahi who was gunned down yesterday in Kandhamal," DGP Manmohan Praharaj said.
Asking the Sangh Parivar not to target a particular community for the crime, Praharaj said, "A number of senior Maoist leaders had earlier claimed responsibility of killing VHP leader Laxamananda Saraswati."
Pointing out that Naxals were not necessarily Christians, he said, "Ashutosh, Adzad and Sabyascachi Panda, the Maoists arrested for Saraswati's killing, are not Christians. So, it is not justified to come to a conclusion that Christians killed Saraswati."
He said police were not aware that Pravat Panigrahi was facing a threat to life.
"I request the persons facing threat to life to contact the police. We will certainly provide security to them," Praharaj said, asking political leaders to inform police regarding their tour in Maoist-infested areas.
He said Orissa required at least 50 more companies of central force for deployment during elections.
BJP demands CBI inquiry
Condemning the Orissa government for failing to maintain law and order in the state, the BJP on Friday demanded a CBI inquiry into the killing of right-wing activist Prabhat Panigrahi.
"BJP condemns Orissa government for its total failure to maintain law and order and pleading helplessness in front of Maoists. BJP demands CBI inquiry into the killing of Prabhat Panigrahi," party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporter here.
Raising doubts on Panigrahi being killed by Naxalites, Javadekar said, "Even it is doubted whether the killers are Naxalite or Christians under the guise of Naxalites. Panigrahi was eliminated as he knew the conspiracy to kill Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati".
RSS leader Prabhat Panigrahi, who was arrested in connection with anti-Christian riots last year, was gunned down by suspected Maoists in Orissa's Kandhamal district on March 19.
The BJP pulled back its ministers and support to the state ministry after Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government snapped its 11-year old ties with the party after the seat-sharing talks between them failed.
Bureau Report
Bhubaneswar, March 20: The Orissa police today rejected the Sangh Parivar claim that Christians were behind the killing of RSS activists in the state and urged for peace in the communally sensitive Kandhamal and elsewhere in Orissa.
Bhubaneswar, March 20: The Orissa police today rejected the Sangh Parivar claim that Christians were behind the killing of RSS activists in the state and urged for peace in the communally sensitive Kandhamal and elsewhere in Orissa. "Police have got specific indication of Naxal involvement in the killing of Pravat Panigrahi who was gunned down yesterday in Kandhamal," DGP Manmohan Praharaj said.
Asking the Sangh Parivar not to target a particular community for the crime, Praharaj said, "A number of senior Maoist leaders had earlier claimed responsibility of killing VHP leader Laxamananda Saraswati."
Pointing out that Naxals were not necessarily Christians, he said, "Ashutosh, Adzad and Sabyascachi Panda, the Maoists arrested for Saraswati's killing, are not Christians. So, it is not justified to come to a conclusion that Christians killed Saraswati."
He said police were not aware that Pravat Panigrahi was facing a threat to life.
"I request the persons facing threat to life to contact the police. We will certainly provide security to them," Praharaj said, asking political leaders to inform police regarding their tour in Maoist-infested areas.
He said Orissa required at least 50 more companies of central force for deployment during elections.
BJP demands CBI inquiry
Condemning the Orissa government for failing to maintain law and order in the state, the BJP on Friday demanded a CBI inquiry into the killing of right-wing activist Prabhat Panigrahi.
"BJP condemns Orissa government for its total failure to maintain law and order and pleading helplessness in front of Maoists. BJP demands CBI inquiry into the killing of Prabhat Panigrahi," party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporter here.
Raising doubts on Panigrahi being killed by Naxalites, Javadekar said, "Even it is doubted whether the killers are Naxalite or Christians under the guise of Naxalites. Panigrahi was eliminated as he knew the conspiracy to kill Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati".
RSS leader Prabhat Panigrahi, who was arrested in connection with anti-Christian riots last year, was gunned down by suspected Maoists in Orissa's Kandhamal district on March 19.
The BJP pulled back its ministers and support to the state ministry after Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government snapped its 11-year old ties with the party after the seat-sharing talks between them failed.
Bureau Report
We're very happy over BJP-BJD split: Orissa Archbishop
We're very happy over BJP-BJD split: Orissa Archbishop
New Delhi (IANS): The church is happy to see Orissa's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) part ways with ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), top Christian leader Rafel Cheenath, said on Monday while hoping that secular parties would now govern the state.
"We are very happy over the termination of the alliance between the BJP and the BJD. Now all small secular parties have come together in the state. We hope the BJD government will continue after the trust vote (Wednesday) with the support of all small parties," Archbishop Cheenath, who is the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archbishop, told IANS by phone from the state capital.
Violence against Christians in Orissa by Hindu rightwing activists last year, particularly in Kandhamal district, is believed to be one of the reasons behind the collapse of the BJD-BJP alliance in the state.
"The Kandhamal incident may be one of the reasons for breaking the alliance," Archbishop Cheenath acknowledged.
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat has said his party leaders met Orissa Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik following the attack on Christians by rightwing Hindu groups and told him that "it is untenable for him to continue with the BJP".
Kandhamal district in Orissa witnessed large-scale violence against Christians after the murder of Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Aug 23 last year. At least 38 people were killed and thousands of Christians were driven out of their homes.
Archbishop Cheenath himself received death threats from alleged VHP activists that his life would be taken to avenge the killing of the Hindu seer.
He expressed hope that secular forces would come to power in the state after the general elections. Polls to the legislative assembly will be held in Orissa along with those for the Lok Sabha on April 16 and April 23.
Archbishop Cheenath said the situation was still not normal in the violence-hit Kandhamal district as the conspirators of the riots were still holding meetings at night. "And the police have not arrested the criminals who killed the innocent people," he said.
"Threat still prevails in the district. More than 4,000 people are still in the refugee camps. They are not able to go home. Only Christians who converted to Hinduism are allowed to stay in their homes," he said.
The archbishop also urged the government to distribute the compensation announced for the riot victims.
New Delhi (IANS): The church is happy to see Orissa's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) part ways with ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), top Christian leader Rafel Cheenath, said on Monday while hoping that secular parties would now govern the state.
"We are very happy over the termination of the alliance between the BJP and the BJD. Now all small secular parties have come together in the state. We hope the BJD government will continue after the trust vote (Wednesday) with the support of all small parties," Archbishop Cheenath, who is the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archbishop, told IANS by phone from the state capital.
Violence against Christians in Orissa by Hindu rightwing activists last year, particularly in Kandhamal district, is believed to be one of the reasons behind the collapse of the BJD-BJP alliance in the state.
"The Kandhamal incident may be one of the reasons for breaking the alliance," Archbishop Cheenath acknowledged.
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat has said his party leaders met Orissa Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik following the attack on Christians by rightwing Hindu groups and told him that "it is untenable for him to continue with the BJP".
Kandhamal district in Orissa witnessed large-scale violence against Christians after the murder of Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Aug 23 last year. At least 38 people were killed and thousands of Christians were driven out of their homes.
Archbishop Cheenath himself received death threats from alleged VHP activists that his life would be taken to avenge the killing of the Hindu seer.
He expressed hope that secular forces would come to power in the state after the general elections. Polls to the legislative assembly will be held in Orissa along with those for the Lok Sabha on April 16 and April 23.
Archbishop Cheenath said the situation was still not normal in the violence-hit Kandhamal district as the conspirators of the riots were still holding meetings at night. "And the police have not arrested the criminals who killed the innocent people," he said.
"Threat still prevails in the district. More than 4,000 people are still in the refugee camps. They are not able to go home. Only Christians who converted to Hinduism are allowed to stay in their homes," he said.
The archbishop also urged the government to distribute the compensation announced for the riot victims.
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