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Call for peace in Kandhamal

BHUBANESWAR: Peace marches denouncing communal violence in Kandhamal district have become order of the day here in Bhubaneswar. On Friday, more than 100 youths took out a rally holding candles in the evening appealing for peace.

College students, civil society activists and some artists joined the peace march that went around Master Canteen Square, Raj Mahal, Lower PMG and finally paid tributes to those who were killed during last fortnight .

They recited prayers of all religions spreading the message of peace and communal harmony.

“We condemn the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his four disciples. The killing of innocent people that followed is also condemnable,” Pradeep Baisakh, one of the participants, said.

Youths demanded adequate security should be provided to riot victims in different relief camps and adequate storage of food should also be ensured.

Since Governor Chandrakant Bhandare was preoccupied with works, they could not submit their memorandum.

During last seven days, women groups, civil society activists, intellectuals and political parties such as Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Republican Party of India had staged demonstrations condemning the violence in Kandhamal district and in other parts of the State.

CUTTACK: In view of the present law and order situation across the State arising out of the Kandhamal violence, the opposition Congress party on Friday took out a peace rally in the city demanding a CBI probe into the entire affair.

Led by PCC chief Jaydev Jena and scores of senior party leaders, hundreds of party workers took out the rally from the historic Swaraj Ashram and held a protest meet in front of the Collector’s office.

AICC secretary K Suresh, former ministers Matlub Ali, Bijaylaxmi Sahu, former MP Jayanti Patnaik, district Congress chief Rabi Mallick and city chief Suresh Mohapatra were among those who staged a dharna.

The leaders expressed concern over the threat to the life and property of the minority community in the State.

They wanted the State Governor’s intervention to restore normalcy .

The Congress leaders also demanded that the Government must come out with a suitable rehabilitation package .

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