Hindu group firm on Orissa procession despite government assurance Indo-Asian News Service
Bhubaneswar, Sep 5 (IANS) The leader of a Hindu outfit Friday said they will take out processions to mourn the killing of the slain leaders from their community in Orissa despite an assurance from the state government to the Supreme Court that it would not allow rallies by the Vishwa Hindu Parisad (VHP). "A memorial meeting would be organised at Chakapada ashram in Kandhamal Sunday and sacred soil from the samadhi would be sent to different areas so that people can pay their homage," senior Bajrang Dal leader Subash Chauhan told IANS. "Every Hindu has the right to pay homage and nobody can stop this," he said. "We don't need permission from the government to pay our respect to the departed soul," he added. Octogenarian Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, a central advisory committee member of the VHP, and four others, including a minor and a woman, were shot dead by unknown gunmen at his Jalespata ashram in Kandhamal district Aug 23. The police suspect Maoist rebels killed them. But some Hindu groups went on the rampage blaming Christians for the murder. Christin groups have repeatedly denied the charge. After the killing of Saraswati, the state witnessed communal violence in which 16 people died and thousands were rendered homeless. It forced the government to deploy police and paramilitary forces in 12 of 30 districts in Orissa. VHP leader Praveen Togadia last week announced that his organisation will take out processions in Orissa and outside to mourn the death of the Hindu leaders. Fearing renewed violence during the processions, Archbishop of Cuttack Raphael Cheenath filed a petition seeking intervention of the Supreme Court earlier this week. The court sought a report from the state government. The Orissa government Thursday assured the court that the government would not allow any procession in the state. "People have every right to mourn and perform rituals for their religious leader and it is not illegal," Chauhan said. "If the government thinks it is illegal let it stops people," he challenged. Orissa is not new to communal violence between Hindus and Christians. On Jan 22, 1999, Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons, 10-year-old Philip and six-year-old Timothy, were burnt alive by a Hindu mob in their vehicle in Keonjhar district.
