The opposition finally get to go to Kandhmal and has a different perspective on the riots Nachiketa ** *Congress seeks CBI probe *
** Special Correspondent *'Violence result of conspiracy' * BHUBANESWAR: Main opposition Congress on Monday alleged that the recent communal violence in Kandhamal district was the result of a *deep-rooted conspiracy between the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the district administration *. Further alleging that the administration and police did nothing do check the spread of violence when VHP activists went on damaging churches and burnt down houses of families belonging to the minority community, the party leaders demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation be handed over the investigation into the violence. The leaders who toured the affected areas as members of the party's fact-finding team headed by former Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal said that only a CBI probe into the incidents could bring the real culprits to the book. As regards the judicial inquiry ordered by the State Government, Mr. Biswal said both probes could go on simultaneously. Sharing their findings based on their meetings with various groups and individuals, Mr. Biswal and senior party leader and former Union Minister Srikanta Jena said the situation in the district was still tense. Blaming the VHP and the district administration for the plight of the people affected by the violence, they demanded that the then District Collector and Superintendent of Police be placed under suspension without delay. "Mere transfer of the officials from the district was not sufficient." About the alleged attack on VHP activist Swami Lakshmananda, Mr. Jena said the VHP activist was never attacked on December 24. Only a scuffle had taken place between the bodyguard of the Swami and the people when the later were requesting the VHP activist not to go towards Brahmanigaon where tension had started involving the two communities. As regards retaliation by the members of the Christian community, Mr. Jena said people belonging to the minority community had retaliated and burnt down houses of some Hindu families in Brahmanigaon only on December 27, on the fourth day of the violence. The Congress leaders, however, clarified that action should be taken against those indulged in the violence irrespective of their religion and caste. About the relief measures, the leaders said that the relief for the affected people was inadequate and insufficient. The quality of the relief material being provided to the people was poor, they said. ______________________________________________________________________ *Opp meets Guv, seeks action against Kandhamal culprits* *Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar* The fact-finding team of the State Congress, which visited the riot-hit Kandhamal district, on Monday lashed out at the State Government accusing it of allowing those behind communal violence to go scot-free and for arresting innocent people arbitrarily. "Only a CBI inquiry can reveal all these things," the team members said. Meanwhile, a BJP team, led by the party's national vice-president and MP Jual Oram, on Monday went on a two-day visit to the riot-hit Kandhamal to take stock of the situation. Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal also visited the affected areas on Monday. Addressing a Press conference here at Congress Bhawan, chairman of the Congress fact-finding team and former Chief Minister Hemanand Biswal said the VHP and the Government officials were hand in glove in spreading terror in the areas. "The Government should suspend the then Collector and Superintendent of Police of Kandhamal for failing to discharge their duties effectively," he said, adding that the Government has totally failed to provide relief to the riot victims. "The relief materials are inadequate to meet the demands of the riot-hit people," he said, adding that the relief materials are also quite substandard. Former Union Minister Srikanta Jena who was present in the Press conference denied the allegation that conversion was the main cause for the violence. "It was the VHP activists who had created all sorts of problems," he said, adding that a misinformation campaign was going on against Congress Rajya Sabha member Radhakanta Nayak. "The fact-finding team did not find any forceful conversion there," he said, adding that everyone has the right to profess any religion. Later, an Opposition delegation led by PCC president Jaydeb Jena met Governor MC Bhandare on this issue and submitted a memorandum to him. They appealed the Government to take appropriate steps for restoring peace, harmony and normalcy in Kandhamal. "We also appeal to take steps for punishing the real culprits and deployment of Central Reserve Police Force till normalcy is restored," they told the Governor. During their meeting with the Governor, they narrated how the incident cropped up. "The incidents that took place in Barkhama and Brahmanigaon are unparallel," they said. Narasingha Mishra and Prasad Harichandan of Congress, Sibaji Patnaik and Santosh Das of CPM, Dibakar Nayak of CPI, Harish Mohapatra of RJD, Arun Jena of JMM, Balaram Sahu and Rebi Behera of Samajwadi Party were the members of the delegation. _________________________________________________________________ -- website: www.freewebs.com/epgorissa [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
