No yatra by Praveen Togadia would be allowed in Kandhmal : Orissa to SC

New Delhi, September 4, The Orissa government has informed the apex court on Thursday that no yatra would be allowed to be carried on in the state. The State Government's response came after the apex court asked the state government to put on affidavit whether any permission has been granted to VHP leader Praveed Togadia for his yatra carrying the ashes of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati. After the assurance the court directed the state government to see that no untoward incidents takes place in riot hit district.

When the matter came for hearing before a three judge bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Central Government's counsel, Gopal Subramanium informed the court that the Home Minister, Shivraj Patil has visited the violence hit places in the state and the situation in the state is tense. The ASG however maintained at the same time that the differences between the CRPF and the state have been resolved and the centre is satisfied with the arrangements made in the relief camps. The central government also assured the court that they are ready to provide any assistance if needed by the state. The Centre however was sceptical about the proposed yatra by VHP leader Praveen Togadia."The state government should not permit any inflammatory speeches to be made and it should also be kept in mind that any yatra will have serious consequeces", said Gopal Subramanium appearing for the centre.

After the centre concluded, the petitioner archbishop of Cuttack Raphael Cheenath represented by senior advocate Colin Gonsalves contended that the VHP and RSS men are going in the camps and there is no safety in these refugee camps.According to Gonsalves, when the home minister Shivraj Patil was visiting violence hit areas, 80 more houses were burnt down Gonsalves also referred to newspaper reports that situation in the area is tense. The Orissa government on the other hand maintained that they will utilise the the paramilitary forces to prevent any yatra from taking place. Representing the state government, senior advocate K K Venugopal assured the court that the state government will do its best to maintain law and order in the state. Venugopal however demanded that they should be provided with four more companies of paramilitary forces to control the situation. The court directed the centre to provide the same.

Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack had filed the petition in the Supreme Court demanding a CBI inquiry into Kandhmal violence after which the court asked the state government if they have taken any steps to control the situation in violence hit district. The court also wanted to know if the state government has granted any permission to VHP leader Praveed Togadia for his yatra carrying the ashes of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati.