Chidambaram calls Orissa CM to ensure peaceful Christmas

India's Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday spoke with Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik to ensure safety for Christians before Christmas.

Offering all necessary assistance, Chidambaram said the Centre has provided a large number of Para-military forces to assist the state government.

Telephoning Patnaik twice, Chidambaram urged the CM to keep him informed of all the developments.

"I have impressed upon him that it is the responsibility of the state government to maintain law and order and protect the lives and property of all sections of the people in the state," he said.

Apart from 2,400 CRPF personnel deployed on a long-term basis in the state, which witnessed prolonged communal violence, the Centre has provided an additional 5,300
personnel of CRPF and Rapid Action Force (RAF), he said in a statement.

"Today, the Central government has provided a helicopter to the state government for patrolling over Kandhamal and Sambalpur districts," Chidambaram said.

Earlier Christians including Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Raphael Cheenath had urged the Central govt. to send more security forces for Christians in Orissa.

Although a statewide bandh declared by a Hindu group was called off, Christians contemplate violence on its members during the Yuletide celebration.