Govt ready to take steps in riot-hit Orissa, Centre tells SC

The Centre assured the SC that it will take necessary steps in the riot-hit Orissa to restore normalcy in the state.

The Centre on Tuesday assured the Supreme Court that it will fulfil its responsibilities and take necessary steps in the riot-hit Kandhamal district of Orissa.

“The Centre will fulfil its responsibilities,” Additional Solicitor Gopal Subramanium told a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan when a petition seeking a CBI probe into incidents of violence against Christians in the state was mentioned before it.

The Bench, which at first wanted petitioner and Archbishop of Cuttack Raphael Cheenath to approach the Orissa High Court, agreed to grant urgent hearing on Wednesday after the ASG intervened and conveyed instructions received from the Centre.

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“Necessary steps will be taken,” Subramanium said and asked the Bench to hear the matter on Wednesday.

The ASG said he would personally interact with the Home Secretary and discuss the issues raised in the petition.

Archbishop’s counsel Colin Gonsalves, who mentioned the petition, said that he cannot go to Orissa as he fears threat to his life.

“The situation is tense and it is difficult for the Archbishop to move in the state as he has received threatening letters,” the counsel said.

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He said after VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, head of a local mutt in Orissa, was allegedly assassinated on August 23, his supporters have threatened to kill the Archbishop.

“They (supporters of Laxmananda) are saying that since you (missionaries) have killed our head we will kill your head,” Gonsalves claimed.