Date:04/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/04/stories/2008020451910300.htm

Other States - Orissa

Tribal outfit plans peace march

Staff Reporter

The rally to cover the areas hit by recent communal violence

March to start from Daringbadi
VHP, Christians blamed for violence

BERHAMPUR: Tribal organisation, Lok Sangram Manch (LSM), is planning to undertake a ‘padayatra’ for communal harmony from Daringbadi to Brahmanigaon in Kandhmal district from February 11.

But the administration is opposed to the ‘padyatra’, leaders of LSM have alleged.

Leader of LSM, Bhalachandra Sarangi, has said they are yet to get permission from the administration to hold this peace march. But the organisation has decided to take up the march even if the administration disallows it. They have proposed to start their peace march from Daringbadi on February 11. The walk will end at Brahmanigaon the next day. Both Daringbadi and Brahmanigaon were hit by communal violence during the month of December. And the villages through which the marchers will pass have also been affected by the communal tension. So, the administration is slight protective regarding the planned march by the tribal organisation.

LSM poser

But the LSM leaders are critical of the administration. According to them, recently the administration and police allowed religious leaders to visit communal violence-hit areas providing tight security to them. “The visitors included VHP leaders and Christian missionaries who are the root cause behind fanning of communal tension in the area,” Mr Sarangi alleges. If these communal leaders could be allowed to go and instigate their own communities why cannot a tribal organisation which is representing the tribal community as a whole be allowed to take up a march for peace, he asked.

The LSM has started distributing a pamphlet in Kandhmal district regarding their peace march. Through their pamphlet they have urged tribals and dalits not to get influenced by the outsiders to destroy communal amity in their areas. The tribal organisation blames communal elements of both communities for the recent violence in the district. “These elements who are mostly outsiders are enjoying easy life while the victims of both communities are suffering the outcome of communal violence,” says the pamphlet.