Protests welcome EU delegation in Orissa

As perceived, the visiting EU delegation was welcomed by protests from right-wing Hindu groups Tuesday as they alighted at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneshwar.

Activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal staged a demonstration outside the airport shouting slogans condemning the visit.

The delegation comprised of members from Hungary, Poland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Britain, Finland and Sweden.

The four-day visit assumes significance in the backdrop of growing concern over impunity and lack of compensation to victims who have been paralyzed by the eight-month long violence in 2008.

Last year, a similar delegation was denied permission to visit the state after it sparked uproar from fundamentalist groups.

Although again an effort was made to thwart the visit, the intervention of the central government helped the diplomatic delegation obtain permission to visit the riot-hit state.

Media reported that upon the arrival of the EU delegation, agitators were heard shouting "go back diplomats" and many were arrested as well. The police had made heavy security arrangements to the diplomats' cavalcade.

Terming the arrest as both "undemocratic" and "unwarranted", VHP State general secretary Gouri Prasad Rath said, "Our members democratically protested over the arrival of European delegation but the police forcibly arrested them."

"The sovereignty of our Country has been badly affected after the Union and State Government allowed a foreign delegation to intervene into our internal affairs," he added.

In response, a Christian leader said the visit would only help improve the situation and image of the state.

"The European Union has always stood for secularism. It has nothing to do with any religious affiliation," Swarupananda Patra, president of Orissa Minority Forum told IANS.

The EU delegation is slated to visit Kandhamal on Thursday. Headed by Christophe Manet, Counsellor (head of political affairs) European Commission, the group will interact with the affected victims and also meet senior state officials and politicians.

Kandhamal district, about 200 km from Bhubaneshwar, witnessed widespread violence after the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram Aug. 23 2008.

More than 50,000 Christians were forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs, which held Christians responsible for Saraswati's killing, although police blamed the Maoists.