Balliguda: More than 15, 000 people on August 27 turned up to observe the eighth anniversary of Kandhamal violence at Balliguda, one of the worst affected places during the 2008 riots.
The participants took out a peaceful rally from mini stadium to sub-collector’s office, 3 km away. A delegation submitted a memorandum addressed to the Governor of Odisha Senayangba Chubatoshi Jamir through the sub-collector of Balliguda.
Balliguda is about 298 km west of Bhubaneswar, the state capital.
The memorandum mainly focused on reopening 320 legal cases related to Kandhamal violence as the Supreme Court directed the Odisha state government and demanded proper investigation and fair trial.
Kandhamal Nyaya Shanti O Sadvabana Samaj (Kandhamal justice, peace and good will society), an outfit of survivors of Kandhamal violence organized the occasion.
Fr Ajaya Kumar Singh, a social activist, claimed it was the largest gathering of the survivors of the Kandhamal violence. He said the people gathered to secure justice and peace and mourn for the dead.
He said the administration had allotted one of the smallest parks for the gathering that was soon overcrowded. “Wish the state understands the cries, pains and demands of the people rather than bullying them,” he said.
Jugal Kishore Ranjit, human rights activist, told the gathering that the Indian democratic system has failed miserably in Kandhamal as many tribals and dalits continue to be killed indiscriminately in the name of Maoism and religion.
Jacob Pradhan, a legislator of the Congress party who hails from Kandhamal and a Baptist, termed as shameful that the Odisha government has not published the report of the Naidu Commission that probed the Kandhamal anti-Christian persecution. The commission had submitted its report to the government eight months ago.
Speaking on the occasion, Praful Samantray, convener of National Alliance of People’s Movements, said, “We must defeat the idea of communal forces who divide communities on basis of caste and religious line. It is unfortunate that Kandhamal violence took place due to apathetic attitude of the State machinery. It should be repeated.”
In his speech, George Tirkey, a tribal Catholic leader and a legislator from Sundargar district, said the Odisha Stare government is inefficient to handle communal violence and promote peace and security. The tribals and dalits of Kandhamal and in other parts of the state should be united to fight against Hindutva forces (Hindu extremists) in the state and work for peace and prosperity.
Ramakrisna Panda, a member of Communist Party of India committee in Odisha, asked about what changes have taken place Kandhamal after eight years of communal violence. After PM Narendra Modi came to power at the federal level, mostly marginalized, religious minorities, human rights activists and communists are targeted.
He further said that Communists are the voice of voiceless. These days those who want to educate themselves have to lose their lives for the sake of justice.
A group of other local leaders also spoke on the occasion.
“The state government should check communal activities under taken by Shang Parivar in Kandhamal and elsewhere with firmness,” quipped a participant Bipra Charan Nayak from Balliguda town.