Violence-hit Orissa Not yet Calm: Chief Minister

(November 20, 2008) Three months after an anti-Christian violence broke out in Orissa state, its chief minister Naveen Patnaik admitted on Wednesday that some part of state “is yet be calm.” "Three blocks of the 12 block areas in the tribal dominated Kandhamal district is yet to be calm," he told media after he met with a team of three visiting federal ministers. This was the first time such acknowledgement comes from Patnaik. Christian leaders have been complaining of continued violence and forced conversion in parts of the disturbed district, where the violence began after a Hindu leader was killed there in Aug. 23 by Maoists. The team of federal ministers visited Kandhamal on Tuesday and spoke with affected people both in the villages and those living in relief camps. They on Wednesday met Patnaik. Following that meeting Patnaik told reporters: "Raikia, G Udaygiri and Tikabali blocks are not yet calm as it should be." Thousands of Christians from these areas live in relief camps or outside the district as their homes were destroyed. They cannot enter their villages if they follow their religion. They are asked to live in the villages as Hindus or face death. A third option is to live elsewhere, Christian leaders say. As long as this situation continues, tension continues, they say. Union Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar, of the three-member team, observed that the situation in Kandhamal is still "tense" and the reaction from the chief minister was quick that efforts were still on to restore normalcy. Pawar said many in the relief camps are unwilling to go back to their villages since they feel insecure and fresh attacks. Agriculture has come to a stand still since people cannot harvest the standing paddy. Powar also expressed concern about huge loss for the farmers. He said if not harvested within the next eight to ten days, the crops would be lost. Patnaik said "peace and harmony needed to be restored." He said the state government was working toward bringing back normalcy in all parts of the district, including the three blocks.