BJP on Friday slammed the Congress and the ruling BJD for resorting to vote bank politics and conspiring to create social tension and communal riot in Kandhamal prior to the 2014 elections.
The intention is crystal clear from the fact that both Governments have joined hands to honour a controversial Father having dubious role in the Kandhamal riot and conversion, alleged BJP.
Addressing a Press conference here at the State BJP party headquarters, party’s chief spokesperson and Odisha Pravari Chandan Mitra accused the Naveen Patnaik Government in Odisha of being hand-in-glove with Congress president Sonia Gandhi to insult Hindus, divide the tribals and hatching a conspiracy to create social tension and communal riot in Kandhamal district.
Strongly opposing the decision of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) to honour controversial Father Ajaya Singh with Minority Right Day Award, ignoring the local police advisory, Mitra, who is also a Rajya Sabha Member, demanded that the NCM must withdraw its decision immediately.
He said that that after the assassination of laxmanananda Saraswati, the Christian missionary Singh had a dubious role in the Kandhamal communal riots. Asserting that Singh was actively involved in the riots in the wake of the killing of Swami laxmanananda, Mitra accused him of direct involvement in conversion of innocent tribals and poor Hindus to Christianity by enjoying their confidence through inducement and allurement in violation of the Anti-Conversion law. Singh established an organization, Jana Vikash, which allegedly has been undertaking illegal conversions much to the opposition of the local tribals, Mitra said.
Pointing out that the NCM which formed a committee to recommend a suitable name for the MRDA with Wazed Habibullah, ATS Tulsi and Assish Nandi, Mitra alleged that all of them were behaving as activists of Congress.
The screening committee which short-listed the name of Ajaya Singh for the award had sought the Kandhamal district administration’s views on his integrity. Though basing on secret information of the Superintendent of Police, the Kandhamal Collector had categorically warned the NCM not to select Singh for the award with advisory that it might create communal tension again in the area, he was shortlisted, said Mitra.
Mitra said though there were two short listed names, Ajay Singh and Teesta Setalvad, who was working for riot victims of Gujarat, the NCM selection committee chose the former despite his dubious role.
Besides, Mitra said that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, holding the Home portfolio and knowing the development, did not raise his voice to restrain the NCM from selecting Singh. It exposes the fact that BJD Chief Patnaik has been hand in glove with Congress and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, he said.
Mitra said despite the existing Anti-Conversion Act, rampant conversion was going on in the State through backdoor.