Bhubaneswar: Some members in the Orissa assembly today claimed that a large number of Christians had fled Kandhamal after the Sangh Parivar gave a shutdown call in the state on Christmas day, but the district administration and a Christian leader denied it. "I have no information about people fleeing Kandhamal. We will ensure a peaceful Christmas," Kandhamal District Collector Krishna Kumar told PTI over phone. He said that patrolling in the district has been intensified.
Voicing concern over the bandh call, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Raphael Cheenath said "though people are mortally afraid in Kandhamal because of the past experience, the situation is not alarming. Some people have left their houses, but there is no largescale exodus from the district." A 12-hour Orissa bandh has been called by the Sangh Parivar demanding arrest of the conspirators and killers of VHP leader Swami Laxamananda Saraswati.
Earlier, describing the situation in Kandhamal as "chaotic", senior Congress members Satyabhusan Sahu and Umesh Swain drew the attention of the Speaker claiming that people had started fleeing the district and urged him to direct the government to remain alert for any eventuality. They pointed out that Christians in Kandhamal were unable to celebrate the festival last year as riots broke out on Christmas eve over an attack on Swami Laxamananda Saraswati. BJP MLA Mahesh Sahu, however, said those feeling insecure in Kandhamal should quit the district. "If they (Christians) do not feel secure to celebrate Christmas in Orissa despite the government s assurance, they should either leave for Kerala or Australia."
