Bhubaneswar: Observing that the situation in Kandhamal continued to be "tense", the union ministerial team today asked Orissa government to prevent bandh proposed by the Sangh Parivar from being observed on Christmas.

"We have requested the Chief Minister to make efforts to stop such a bandh on December 25,a festival day," leader of the central team and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told reporters after reviewing the situation at a meeting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and senior officials.

While disapproving the demand by Sangh Parivar to nab the culprits behind the killing of VHP leader Laxamanananda Saraswati by December 15,he asked the state government to gear up investigation to book those involved in the crime.

Asking the state government to give confidence to different sections of people, particularly the minority community, Pawar said they should feel that their life and property were fully protected.

On Pawar's suggestions, Patnaik agreed, "there should not be a bandh on December 25."

He, however, did not make any appeal to the Sangh Parivar to refrain from going on a statewide bandh on the festive day.

The central ministerial team, comprising Tribal Affairs Minister P R Kyndiah and Social Justice Minister Meira Kumar also, told the state government that need of the hour was to restore peace and calm in the district where people still live under the fear even after three months of the incident.

Source : PTI