PM terms Orissa violence a 'national shame'

ON THE BOIL: Orissa has been in the grips of communal violence after a key VHP leader was killed.

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New Delhi: As parts of Orissa continue to burn in the ongoing communal violence that has claimed the lives of 10 people, the Prime Minister has broken his silence over the issue and has termed it a "national shame".

A group of Christian leaders met Manmohan Singh to seek his intervention in the ongoing violence against Christians in the state, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) spokesman Father Babu Joseph said. He also said that Catholics institutions across India will be shut on Friday in protest.

The Prime Minister has assured leaders of the community that compensation of Rs 3 lakh would be paid to the affected families from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

Meanwhile, Manmohan Singh spoke to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and asked him to take immediate steps to stop the violence and restore normalcy, a statement from the Prime Minister's office said.

"A delegation of Catholic Bishops Conference of India along with Archbishop of Delhi met the Prime Minister and apprised him of the recent situation in Orissa. The PM mentioned that the Central Government was in touch with the state government and every effort would be made to restore normalcy in the state," the statement said.

The statement added that the PM later spoke to Naveen Patnaik over the phone and has asked him to provide protection to the Christian minorities in Orissa and also to provide immediate relief to the affected people, particularly children.

Some Relief

Amid signs of subsiding violence in Orissa's riot-ravaged Kandhamal that left 10 people dead, relief camps and free kitchens were opened in six places and curfew was relaxed in some areas.