Bhubaneswar: Christian and civil rights groups in Odisha have won temperory relief when authorities banned a Hindu leader from entering sensitive Kandhamal district in the eastern Indian state.
Kandhamal district administration on Thursday denied permission to Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP, world Hindu council) chief Pravin Togadia, from entering the area to maintain peace.
“He (Togadia) will not be allowed to enter the district. The ban is valid for next seven days,” Kandhamal’s Superintendent of Police Kanwar Vishal Singh said.
Togadia was scheduled to address a gathering of VHP supporters at Phulbani, the district headquarters of Kandhamal, Saturday.
Singh said the organizers have been however given permission to hold the gathering but without Togadia.
Different Christian groups and social activists had moved the local and state administration seeking a ban on Togadia’s visit, saying his speeches might inflame communal division in the district.
They alleged that Togadia’s earlier visits, especially in 2008, had led to unprecedented violence against Christians in Kandhamal district.
At least 100 people were killed and nearly 50,000 were rendered homeless following widespread communal violence in the region in 2008 after the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati. Togadia led the funeral procession through main centers in the district. His speeches allegedly triggered communal passions.
The Kandhamal administration has imposed prohibitory orders in the district for seven days.
VHP has called a general shut down in the district on Feb 28 protesting the administration’s ban on Togadia’s visit.
On Wednesday, Mulnivasi Manch (forum for original inhabitants) had demanded the state government to impose a ban on the hate speeches of the VHP leader.
A Manch press release alleged that despite the prevailing volatile situation, Togadia was being allowed to make provocative speeches in various parts of Odisha, reported orissadiary.com