Communist Party of India (Marxist)
August 30, 2008
Press Release
On August 29th, CPI(M) Polit Bureau Member and Rajya Sabha M.P. Brinda Karat along with a delegation of CPI(M) leaders from Orissa comprising State Secretary Janardan Pati, Shivaji Patnaik, Ali Kishore Patnaik and Tapasi Praharaj tried to visit the districts affected by the reign of terror against the Christian community to express their solidarity, were not allowed to do so by the administration. However in Bhubaneswar, they met a large number of Christian families who had fled their villages and were taking shelter in Bhubaneswar. The first hand account of these victims provided a most chilling picture of the terror that has been unleashed by the RSS parivar, namely the VHP and the Bajrang Dal. What is of grave concern is that thousands of Christian families who have had to flee their homes and are unable to return, are taking shelter in the jungles because of continuing terror against them. Two relief camps in Raikia and G.Udaigiri are overflowing with victims without any proper measures. Shockingly no FIRs are being lodged on the complaints of the victims. In just four villages of Tiangia, Gadragaon, Chakapada, Bakingia from where the families have fled, over 500 homes of Christian families have been burnt. A survivor Roshanto Naik, told the delegation that in his village of Tiangia, four pastors were brutally killed and one is fighting for his life in Raikia hospital. Churches all over the district have been razed to the ground. Another survivor from Gadragaon, Rabindra Nath Pradhan a retired army jawan who had served in Kargil, told the delegation with tears in his eyes how his younger brother whose legs had been paralysed was trapped in his house and even though he pleaded to be helped out, was burnt to death in his home by the RSS men. Pradhan named the men but no FIR had been lodged. The last rites of the victims could not be done as all had to flee the village. The women related their terrible trauma, weeping with the memory of their flight, without any water or food for four days. One had a three month old child in her arms and said how she had to muffle the cries of the baby to ensure the safety of the group. Sudhangshu Naik from Bakingia village said that in his village, pastor Samal Naik and his old mother had been brutally killed and then thrown into the fire. With the intervention of the delegation the authorities in Bhubaneswar started registering FIRs on the basis of the statements of these families.
From these accounts it is clear that for four days following the murder of Swami Lashmananda reportedly by Maoists there was an utter abdication of any governance and the field was left open to the reign of terror unleashed by the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad on the Christian community in Kandhmal and in adjoining districts. The connivance of the Government was exemplified by the permission given to Praveen Togadia to take out a funeral procession of the Swamy for 200 km from the place where he was killed, to his main ashram. This deliberate fanning and inflaming of communal hatred against the Christian community directly resulted in the violence being planned and executed by these organizations.
In spite of the shoot at sight orders and the curfew in several districts and the presence of the police, the violence against the community continues in many areas showing that with the BJP in the coalition providing patronage to the carnage, it is the command of the RSS front organizations which matter.
The delegation met the Chief Minister and strongly condemned the utter failure of his Government in alliance with the BJP to provide protection to the Christian community. In particular it expressed its deep concern at the plight of women and children, including nuns who have been targets of attacks along with pastors. Describing the incidents as a “reign of terror” on the most vulnerable sections of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes because they were Christians, the delegation demanded action against Togadia and other leaders responsible for inciting violence, asking the Chief Minister to snap his ties with the BJP. The delegation demanded immediate registration of FIRs taking statements from those in the relief camps, of immediate relief to those homeless and in the camps and measures to ensure their return to the villages.
The report will be given to the Prime Minister. It is essential for the centre to play a proactive role to ensure that the violence is stopped and that appropriate measures are taken. Since many of the areas are under Schedule 5 of the Constitution, the Centre has an added responsibility.
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