I am sorry: Chidambaram tells Kandhamal riot victims

Sumir Kaul

Phulbani (Kandhamal), Jun 26 (PTI) "I am sorry...,"
Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday told Kandhamal
riot victimsm during a visit to one of the relief camps here.

The Home Minister, who is on a two-day visit to
Orissa, met the victims living in relief camps set up after a
series of communal clashes following the killing of
85-year-old (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) VHP leader Swami
Laxmananda Saraswati in August last year.

"I am sorry that certain things happened last year and
you have been brought to these camps. But you must go back to
your villages. I am here to tell you, don't fear," he said.

Condemning the incident, Chidambaram asked them to
start life afresh, build the churches and practice their
religion.

"Whatever happened was wrong. Build your churches and
practice your dharma," he said.

When some refugees spoke of fear of right wing
parties Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang
Dal, the Home Minister assured then that the guilty will be
"prosecuted and punished."

"All those who have indulged in this ghastly crime
will be prosecuted and punished," he said.

The Home Minister visited Mandaika, Rahikola, Tinigia
and Tikabali camps in the district providing shelter to about
1500 people.

The Home Minister, who is on his first visit to Orissa
after the recent polls of the Lower House of the Indian
Parliament, patiently listened to the plight of the victims
living the camps.

"Bringing back all displaced is our endeavour. What
happened was wrong. Over 4,620 families were affected out of
which majority have returned. Now only a few -- approximately
1,500 -- have to go back," he said.

On some residents' complaint that the state
government's relief of Rs.10,000 was inadequate, Chidambaram
assured them that he would take up the matter during his
meeting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

"Christians are living all over the country and it is
not correct to say they are not being protected," he said.

The Kandhamal riot victims are being used by Naxals
for creating communal divide in the area in order to
strengthen their base among the local minority population, the
officials told the Home Minister.

Several groups of Naxals have been seen tying up with
minority groups in the area to win their support, official
sources said.

"The killing of Saraswati was the handiwork of Naxals.
The RSS leaders, who were arrested during the riots, were also
killed by them in a targetted manner after their release,"
they added. PTI