Oriyas abroad condemn violence, urge peaceful Christmas

"We, the Oriyas living abroad, are unhappy with the incidents of communal violence in our state, which have given it a bad name," said Dhirendra Kar, former vice president of Oriya society of America (OSA).

Protesting the recent violent attacks on Christians, the Oriyas living abroad, on Friday urged the state government to annihilate the bandh on Christmas day and provide protection to the minorities.

"We do not want such things in the future. The government should ban the Dec 25 bandh (shutdown) which some organisations are planning," Kar told IANS, adding that this was the demand of Oriyas living in the US.

Calling it an issue more critical than politics, Kar said, "Such incidents are creating trouble and people here ask us lot of questions when we are desperately trying to do some thing for the state."

Last year, after the outbreak of violence during Christmas, several hundreds were attacked, dozens severely injured and churches and Christian institutions burnt.

While relief works, including the re-building of houses were in progress, August 23, this year, a local VHP leader was murdered by the Maoists, for which Hindu fundamentalists held Christians responsible.

Then followed one of the largest violence on Christians in India: Over 110 killed, 50,000 forced to flee to forests and 300 churches burnt.

While Hindu groups have called for a bandh on December 25, 2008, Churches have pleaded the government to ban the statewide shutdown and render protection to the Christians.