Arresting violence in Orissa

The Eastern state Orissa is rich in natural resources and forest wealth. Unfortunately the lack of basic human needs have kept the state in total backwardness. Despite MNCs and big Indian companies pumping crores of rupees it has become common for Orissa to get entangled in communal violence often. As the popular feeling goes in the country ‘myth and reality, superstitions and science, prosperity and poverty co-exists’.

Orissa is a standing example of this irony. Despite the forward movement in economy the state is yet to put an end to its persistent clashes on religious lines. One of the crucial reasons for the continuing in communal tensions is stop gap arrangements of the government. There are no long lasting solutions and programmes to identify, control and eliminate these clashes. The killing of eminent Hindu figurehead Swami. Lakshmananda Saraswati who was ninety years old denotes the height of communal frenzy in the state. Raping and burning of nuns is equally cruel. The culprits are clearly out to create burning fire in the society. The onus is on the state government to put an end to the menace. The clean headed and hearted Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is putting all possible efforts to counter the communal troubles. But a more hardened stance is required.

Conversion assignment of the Christian missionaries and active involvement of Hindu organizations to prevent the converts keep Orissa tense regularly. In addition to this religious angle, active movement and operation of the Naxalities challenge the authority of the state. With these multiple troubles all the developmental activities get nullified. To solve this long pending trouble both central and state governments need to work with a complete understanding. Any intrusion of petty politics will ruin the state in the long run. The consequence may not be confined to Orissa. It may spill over to neighbhouring states like Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Andra Pradesh. As the Naxalite corridor is extensively active in these states, a well tuned strategy is required. In this mission, all the top police, intelligence and social heads need to devise appropriate methods. The National Security Advisor M.K.Narayanan, KPS.Gill, Walter Devaram, Kiran Bedi, Vijaya Kumar who gunned down forest brigand Veerapan can form this high level policing force.

The Central government should not wait any more to step in crush the twin evils of Orissa – Naxalism and communal frenzy. Political calculations should be dumped for the overall progress of the nation.