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Recurrence of communal violence in Kandhamal likely during polls

BERHAMPUR: It is feared that coming elections may fan the communal cinders in Kandhamal district of Orissa.

With time the heat of communal violence is slowly subsiding in this area. But organisations and leaders have started to think of harvesting political gains through divisive politics.

It may reopen the wounds and jeopardize the peace process.

The main stream political parties like the BJD, BJP and the Congress have not yet opened up their cards for the area for coming elections.

But organisations like Kui Samaj Samanwaya Samity (KSSS), Laxmana Sena and South Orissa Minority Community Development Council (SOMCDC), which have been formed on caste or religious lines have started to soil the political environment in the area.

The KSSS has decided to field candidates in all the three assembly segments and the Phulbani parliamentary seat of Kandhamal district. This tribal organisation represents the Kui speaking tribals of the area.

The three assembly segments of Kandhamal district are Baliguda, G. Udaygiri and Phulbani, which are reserved for tribals.

It may be noted that the scheduled caste ‘Pana’ community as well as the Christians are opposed to this organisation with the allegation that the KSSS had a role in the communal violence that occurred in the district during 2007 and 2008.

Suddenly just before the polls the SOMCDC, a new organisation of Christian minorities has come up in south Orissa. This organisation has openly demanded the Congress to field candidates of their organisation from the Christian minority community in Baliguda and G.Udaygiri assembly segments of Kandhamal district. Its leader Daniel Das is a Congressman and the bargaining attitude of this new organisation on religious lines within the Congress party has jeopardized the secular face of the Congress in Kandhamal. A new outfit ‘Laxman Sena’ formed in the name of the murdered VHP leader Swami Laxamananda Saraswati has decided to fight the coming Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Kandhamal district.

According to sources this new organisation has the backing of elements of the Sangh Parivar and Hindu Jagaran Samukhya, who are not satisfied with the stance of the BJP in Orissa especially in Kandhamal district. ‘Laxman Sena’, which seems to be conglomeration of communal hardliners, has strong reservations against the BJP for its alleged double standard after the assassination of the VHP leader.

The State secretariat member of the Orissa unit of the CPI(M), Ali Kishore Patnaik said the Election Commission has to put strong watch against these organisations who are all set to play communal politics in volatile Kandhamal district. He demanded the commission to take strict action against any party and leader who would try to use communal card in this capricious area.

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