Government is villain: Narasingh to rios panel

BHUBANESWAR: Former minister and senior Congress leader Narasingh Mishra on Monday alleged that there was a deep-rooted conspiracy in the country, including Odisha, to create disturbances on the Christmas day in 2007 and the violent incidents subsequently.Deposing before Justice SC Mohapatra Commission probing the Kandhamal riots, the former minister alleged that the district administration remained a silent spectator instead of taking action to prevent the violence.Mishra deposed after being summoned by the panel basing on his statement made in the Assembly as Deputy Leader of Congress Legislature Party. “In my statement, I informed the commission that the State Government was co-conspirator in the riot that took place on the night of December 24, 2007,” he said.The Congress leader said on that night, many religious institutions were attacked and there was widespread arson and looting. The worst sufferer was the Christian community, he said.The former minister and many other leaders visited Kandhamal after the incident. He alleged that the Christian community had complained that two days before the incident they had drawn attention of the district collector and the SP in writing about the danger to their lives and property and sought protection. Mishra alleged that the district administration neither took any preventive action nor was any protection given to the Christian community. Accusing the BJD Government of acting hand-in-glove with the rioters, he said the then SP and the collector should have been punished for negligence.“Inaction on part of the Government in the 2007 riot led to killing of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and a massive violence in the aftermath,” he claimed.The Congress leader told the Commission that the State Government was the main villain. "When I raised the issue in December 2008 in the Assembly there was no reply from the Government,’’ he said and added that he placed many papers, including newspaper clippings, to show that there was a deep-rooted conspiracy.Mishra sought more time since those papers are not easily available now. The hearing of the Commission has been adjourned to March to record further statement from the Congress leader.