Sonia Gandhi calls to end anti-Christian violence

Sonia Gandhi on Saturday gave a call to end the menace and warned against those trying to take political mileage out of it by dividing the society."There are some people who are using the terror incidents to take a political mileage and trying to divide the society. Due to acts of some, these elements create doubts in the minds of common people and try to blame the entire community...This is wrong," she said at a rally in New Delhi.

The UPA chairperson said that some people were trying to create an atmosphere of fear with the terror attacks."This is a national problem and has to be uprooted. We all have to fight against this meance," she said, adding this was against the culture of the country.

Apparently referring to the anti-Christian violence in some parts of the country, she said some elements were deliberately trying to target the weaker sections.

"The enemies of the country also want this along with those who do the politics of vested interests," she said, adding, "we have to be alert of their designs".Gandhi emphasised on the need for unity.DD news.

Orissa continuing violence against Christians by the saffron outfits and the demand for imposition of President's rule.Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who was asked by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Cabinet meeting to come out with an apprisal of the situation, is understood to have sought a report from the Governor.

Patil spoke to Governor M C Bhandare to discuss the situation in the state, Home Ministry sources said.The Centre is unhappy with the Naveen Patnaik government for the violence in the state against the Christian community and has said that despite half a dozen warnings, the Orissa government has not been able to control the situation.PTI news

Mr Naveen Patnaik today refuted federal home minister Mr Shivraj Patil's charge of the Orissa state having failed to use central forces and curb the month-long violence in Kandhamal district.Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik charged that the Centre delayed sending additional CRPF personnel and helicopters on 23 August but the forces arrived after 27 August when the violence was at its peak.Mr Naveen Patnaik today refuted federal home minister Mr Shivraj Patil's charge of the Orissa state having failed to use central forces and curb the month-long violence in Kandhamal district.The situation in Orissa acquired greater attention from the Centre after the embarrassment suffered by the Prime Minister when he met the leaders of the EU in France during the week when they raised the issue of attacks on Christians.

More than 405 person have been arresred upto now and 344 criminal cases have been registered against the vandals in joint effort by the centre para military force and state force making combined efforts to curb the violence.AIR news

National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has demanded a flexible approach in handing out compensation to victims of communal clashes in Orissa, nearly 20 persons have been killed so far in the violence.

Earlier in December 2007 and January 2008, violence was confined to Kandhamal district. This time it spread to Gajapati, Ganjam and Bargarh districts as well, the NCM report said.