Naveen picks holes in Centre’s claim.

PNS | New Delhi

The Chief Ministers of Orissa and Karnataka, the two States where violence prompted the Central Government to call the National Integration Council (NIC) meeting, have shot back at their critics for trying to 'frame' the State Governments "without any reason'.
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said the recent incidents of violence were a manifestation of the "conflict of interest' between Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Patnaik explained that the long history of ill-feeling and suspicion between the Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SCs) on a variety of issues such as forcible occupation of land of the tribals and jobs secured on the basis of false caste certificates are the main reasons for the ongoing violence in Kandhamal district.
Kandhas and Panas are the original inhabitants of the Kandhamal. While majority of the Kandhas are Hindus, most of the Panas are converted to Christianity. The problem cropped up after Panas started demanding rights as enjoyed by the Kandha tribe. Kandhas alleged that Panas have grabbed their land.

At the meeting, Patnaik also mentioned that a Special Administrator had been appointed to address the long standing problems of the people of Kandhamal as well as to oversee implementation of a special package for the district."Kandhamal has practically not had any violent incident for the last 10 days due to the presence of police forces," he said, adding that the entire nation must fight hatred, fanaticism and recrimination.

"Orissa has an excellent track record of peace and harmony and is remarkably free of considerations of casteism and communalism," he said, adding that in its more than eight years of incumbency, his Government had not had any violence in the entire State except for the two unfortunate incidents in one of the State's 30 districts namely, Kandhamal in December, 2007 and in August, 2008.Condemning the violence, he said more than 1,000 persons have been arrested out of which more than 500 were from the district of Kandhamal alone. "The Crime branch is investigating these incidents. It has made significant progress and arrested three persons involved in the murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati," he said.

Describing the rape of a nun as a "shameful and barbaric incident", he stated that eight persons have been arrested in connection with this case and prompt action has been taken against police officials who have neglected their duty. "A judicial enquiry has been ordered into the incidents," he said.Mentioning that the incidents in Kandhamal were happening in the backdrop of the worst floods in the post-Independence history of Orissa, Patnaik urged the Government of India for Central assistance for more than four million people who have been affected by the floods.

Responding to the discussion on extremism, he mentioned that over 15,000 posts have been created in the Orissa police during the last three years which was an increase of 30 per cent.He requested the Government of India to accept the long standing demand of the State Government for deployment of four more battalions of CRPF for at least two years in order to assist the State Governments efforts to fight extremism.