12th October, 2008 - Bandh in five Orrissa districts

A string of left wing parties which includes The CPI (ML), CPI (ML) New Democracy, CPI (ML) Liberation, SUCI, Samajwadi Jana Parishad is observing a bandh to protest against the communal violence in Kandhamal district. Now, this is someting they should have done and only they know why they are doing it now. A release jointly signed by Mr Bhalla Chandra Sadangi of CPI (ML) New Liberation and Mr Bishnu Das of SUCI said the bandh will be observed in five districts of the state including Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Ganjam. The Statesman reported that theyaccused the state BJD-BJP government of conducting a Gujarat like experiment in Orissa by spreading communal poison. The Kandhamal violence was a planned one with minorities being targeted, they alleged. The minorities are being told to choose between death and re-conversion, they charged. Maoists have claimed responsibility for the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Sara-swati but the Sangh Parivar continues to spread hatred against minorities and holds them responsible for the crime, they alleged.