I am shocked and anguished by the news reports of communal violence engineered by Sangh Parivar elements in the Kandhamal district of Orissa. That the nation should be a witness to such communal clashes even 60 years after its independence is most unfortunate. The anti-Christian violence has once again exposed the ugly face of the communal forces, who have been unsuccessfully trying to create a Hindutva laboratory even in Karnataka, which was effectively thwarted during the 20 months rule of the JD (S) led by Chief Minister Sh H D Kumaraswamy. I strongly condemn the violence in Kandhamal district and urge Orissa Chief Minister Sh Naveen Patnaik to foil effectively the nefarious designs of the communal forces, provide all possible relief to the riot-affected and ensure the safety and security of the minorities, who are increasingly becoming the victims of the Sangh Parivar in its blind pursuit of power even at the cost of tearing apart the nation's pluralistic social fabric.

( H D Deve Gowda)