Reservation for Christians cause of violence, says VHP

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has alleged that providing of reservation for Christians was the reason for the violence in Kandhamal and its peripheral areas.

In a press release VHP State general secretary Gouri Prashad Rath on Thursday said according to the Ranganath Mishra Commission report, the Center had announced reservation benefit to Christians like SC and ST for which the feud between original tribal people and Christians in the district broke out.

Rath also alleged that local Congress MP and retired bureaucrat Radhakant Nayak was the man behind the communal tension and in his knowledge and patronage the members of Christian community had attacked Swami Laxmananda Saraswati.

He demanded strong action against Nayak for his involvement in the attack.