Kandh leaders flay visit of EU delegation to Kandhmal

Kandh leaders flay visit of EU delegation to Kandhmal
By Golak Chandra Das

BHUBANESWAR: Kandh tribal leaders on Saturday said the European delegation and the Orissa government would be held responsible if fresh violence erupts in strife-torn Kandhmal.

Addressing a news conference here, tribal leader and BJP MLA Karendra Majhi and Banabasi Kalyan Ashram General Secretary Laxmikant Das alleged that the visit of the EU delegation to Kandhmal was aimed at promoting conversion and communalism in the area.

They said the delegation, during its two day visit to the area, met only one section of the community and held secret meeting inside the Catholic Church with select NGOs and church leaders. The members did not bother to meet local public representatives or Kandh leaders.

The leaders further alleged that the EU delegation had tried to interfere with and influence the affairs of the state by holding discussion with the Director General of Police and government officials on the well being of a particular community in Kandhmal.

Mr Majhi said the Kandh samaj condemned the visit of the delegation and the decision of the BJD-led Naveen Patnaik government to approve the visit.The state government,he said, must clarify about the visit of the team and holding talks with only Christians and the Church leaders.

Laxmikant Das indicated that it was not a cultural and social visit but communal and aimed at creating an extra territorial loyalty which would set a dangerous trend in the area disturbing the peace and harmony.

Mr Das also demanded a probe into the activities of the NGOs operating in Kandhmal in close liaison with the church leaders by accepting huge foreign fund.

He alleged that several churches had come up on tribal land and demanded that such land grabbed by middlemen for construction of churches, pastoral training centre and prayer houses must be returned to the tribals forthwith.

An eleven member EU delegation,comprising diplomats of nine countries, had arrived here on February 2 on a five day visit to the state to assess the situation prevailing in Kandhmal which witnessed largescale communal violence, loot and arson following the assassination of senior VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and four of his disciples on June 23 at Jalaspeta Ashram in Kandhmal district.

With EU Team announced recently during their visit to Odisha about the funding €15 million for development in various sectors in Odisha, BJP leaders are quite worried about the future of the riot hit zone.

Majhi said with the EU Team could have met Sankarachrya and other Hindu leaders.

He apprehended that if the foreign funding will land up with the Church leaders, than peace in Kandhamal will be shattered. Majhi said Kandhs are born free and they should not be allowed bond by communal forces.

BJP Lawmaker said when entire state is agog with EU Team visit, State Government is maintaining eerie silence over the matter. He asked the Chief Minister to come clean over the matter and make an announcement in this regard.

Baliguda MLA charged Church leaders of illegal occupation of the land of tribal in Kandhamal.

Pointing out a case he said Dibyajyoti Pastoral Training Centre at K Nuagaon has illegally occupied land of tribals. No action is being taken up by the State Government, lamented majhi