: VHP activists burn tyres and clash with police during a protest against the killing of Swami Laxmananand in Bhubaneshwar on Sunday.-PTI

Bhubaneswar (PTI): Holding the BJD-BJP government in Orissa "responsible" for the gunning down of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, the VHP on Monday asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to tender a public apology as his government had "failed" to protect Swami.

"Naveen Patnaik should publicly apologies to the people of the state for his government's failure in protecting sadhus and saints. It was Naveen' individual responsibility to protect them," VHP's international secretary general Praveen Togadia told reporters here.

Togadia, who arrived here on his way to Chakapada to attend slain Swami Laxmanananda's last rites, also hit out at the state police "accusing it of being unable to discharge its duty and responsibility."

To a query, he said "We are not demanding Naveen's resignation but a public apology by him."

Dubbing the killing the "first open attack on Hindu institutions and saints," the VHP leader said the Church activities across the country must be properly scanned.

Targetting the state Director General of Police, Togadia said the police chief claimed that suspected Naxalites were involved in Swamiji' killing within 30 minutes of the incident on Saturday night.

"How did he know that Naxalites were involved in the killing within such a short span of time," he wondered and accused the police of misleading people by ignoring possible role of others.