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Friday, January 18, 2008

Local MP disagrees with NCM report on Kandhamal riot

Bhubaneswar (PTI): Dismissing the National Commission for Minorities' (NCM) report that the recent violence against Christians in Kandhamal district was 'pre-planned', local BJD MP Sugrib Singh on Friday claimed the incident was 'accidental'.

Singh also countered a recent statement by BJP vice-president and MP, Jual Oram, suspecting the BJD leader's hand behind the attack on Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati which escalated communal tension in Kandhamal.

Singh, belonging to scheduled caste, told reporters that he was in no way associated with the attack on Saraswati. "I have a great respect for Saraswati. Therefore, no one should suspect my respect towards him who had done a lot of work for the welfare of tribal population," Singh said.

To a querry on the report of the NCM, Singh said he would rather describe the riots as an accident.

"I do not see any plan or conspiracy behind the communal and ethnic clash which took place in my constituency during the last week of December," he said adding that he did not agree with the NCM report.

Singh, however, said that the commission of inquiry set up by the state government would reveal the fact behind the violence.

"We should wait for the judicial commission report, not the report of the NCM," he said.

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