Converted Christian's effort to grab ST status in Orissa's Kandhamal results in bloody clashes: Attack on Swami Laxmanananda aggravates the situation  

Phulbani (Orissa): (visakeo)-Kandhamal district is once again in news. The district – which is very often proudly claimed as Orissa's Kashmir – witnessed clashes between two local communities – the tribal Kondh predominantly Hindus and Panas mostly converted to Christianity. 

The Projection of the incident in Media 

A section depicted it as communal clash and squarely blamed the Hindus for the three days of violence.  

The clashes between the two groups which began on the Christmas eve, threw normal life out of gear at places like Brahmanigoan, Barkhama, Baliguda, Tikabali, Daringibadi, Phulbani and few other places and compelled the government to impose curfew at several towns in the district.  

Many media, mostly the national and international, – without a reality check – went overdrive to paint a wrong picture about the entire sequence of events. Very few investigated the reasons of the violence put the blame squarely on the Hindus. Only burning of churches and prayer houses were reported, not the lethal attack on the Hindu seer Laxmananda Saraswati found due place in the newspapers. Nor the death of a Hindu – which was immediate provocation for the communal clash – was properly highlighted. Even Maoists joining hands with Christians in attacking tribals was ignored by the international and national media.  

However the vernacular press predominantly reflected what actually happened on the ground and found Christians being the initiator of the latest hostility between the communities. The followers of Christ faith were in the forefront of attack and they attacked Hindu hamlets and attacked the police and even collaborated with Maoists in attacking the kondh tribals, they reported.  

Starting of the trouble 

The trouble started on the eve of the eve of Christsmas Day. On December 23, the converted Christians at Brahmanigoan wanted to erect a gate near the place of a Hindu deity to celebrate the Christmas. This was resented by the local Hindus. They asked the Christians why they were insisting to build the second gate near their place of worship when they had already erected one where they normally use to erect their Christmas gate. This led to heated exchange of words between members of the two communities. Two Hindu youths were severely beaten up and injured by the Christians.  

As this news reached to Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a selfless Hindu seer – working for the socio-economic development of the local people for over four decades, he set out for Brahmanigoan on December 24. While he was on his way, he was surrounded by the Christians and attacked with sharp weapons. The seer and two of his fellow travelers sustained serious injuries. With Swamiji's drivers prompt action and fleding away with vehicle, life of Swamiji was saved.   

The news of attack on the seer and his disciples spread like a wildfire and shocked his innumerable supporters in the district. What followed was the emotional outburst of Swamiji's followers created over a period of four decade long service to the people, their development and religious awakening.  

Both the sides indulged in clashes at several places – damaging life and property on both the sides. Strangely, many national and international media presented one-sided story, - they did not see how the Hindus were dragged out of their houses, beaten up and hacked to death. They only saw churches and listened what the Christian leaders spoke. The world was fed with wrong information. 

The social issues that affects peace very often in Phulbani 

The problem that has often led to clashes in the district – in reality – is more of social character than religious. The Kondh, native tribal community constitute the overwhelming majority of the district. Pans originally a Scheduled Caste group in majority have been converted to Christianity.  

Kui – the mother tongue of the Kondhs is the principal language of the district. The sizable Christian Panas speak Kui, the tribal dialect.  

Christian Panas have been demanding scheduled tribe (ST) status. They contend that since they speak Kui and their lifestyle and socio-economic conditions are similar with the Kondhs, they should be considered as scheduled tribe.  

The Panas claim they received a shot in the arm when the J.B. Patnaik government in 1982 recommended the Centre to recognize the Kuis as STs. But Kui is a language and not the name of any tribe. The state government recommendation got the President's assent in 2002. But it may be clarified that Presidential proclamation talked of Kui to be included in ST category. The Govt. of Orissa refused ST status to Kui speaking converted people as the Record of Rights of that section of Kui speaking people are named as Panas belonging to Schedule Caste category.

Court has intervened

This was challenged by the Christian Panas in Orissa High Court. They filed a writ petition in the HC seeking passing of an order in favour of their demand.  

The HC in its directive asked the state government to take appropriate decision in the light of Presidential proclamation. The legal battle went on and finally the Court asked the Govt. to take a decision. 

The Govt  declines 

However, the state government submitted that since the Record of Rights of the Panas  did not mention the Panas belonging to Tribe category, their demand for the said status could not be met. "This demand is not based on historical and anthropological facts", Orissa Government time and again has maintained.  

The dropped steel and mines minister Padmanabh Behera, who belongs to Pana community –was apparently sympathetic the demand ST status to his fellow people. The Kondhs say Mr Behera was utilizing the state machinery to repress them when the opposed to the Pana's ST status demand. Going by demand of Kondhas for removal of Mr. Behera from the ministry, it was apparently Chief Minister Naven Patnaik wanted Mr. Behera to resign to buy peace from angry Kondhs of the district. 

Rangnath Mishra commission recommendations adds fuel to the fire 

Justice Ranganth Commission, that recommended facility of reservation to be extended to the converted dalit people, the ST and SC people are apprehensive of their rights being curtailed and grabed by converted people who at the present law not eligible to get reservation facility.

R. K. Naik, the villain

Behind the social tension, conflict, disorder and bloody battle there is hand of a former bureaucrat a native of Kandhamal district Mr. Radhakant Naik now a Congress MP. He patronized missionary activities and conversion alienating sizable section of the society from their culture and tradition.  

It may be noted that Mr. Naik a converted Christian had got into Indian Administrative service in Scheduled Caste quota, which he is not entitled to as per Indian constitution.  

Now close to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who generously made him member of Rajya Sabha from Orissa, alleged Swami Laxmananda as man behind attack on him on Christmas eve. Attack on Swamiji had taken place in the native village of Mr. Naik in Dasingibadi, considered as stronghold of Christian's activity.  

Founder of Phulbani Kui Jankalyan Sangh, he leads the movement for arranging ST status for Christian Panas, the group to which he himself belongs.

VHP demands ban on conversion

A VHP delegation which included retired Judge of Orissa Hiogh Court Justice M. Papanna, educationist Dr. Ratnakar Chaini, VHP state President Bipin Bihari Ratha wanted the Chief Minister to ban on conversion as they opined it as the root of all problems in tribal regions of the state. Atleast they demanded strict implementation of Orissa Freedom of Religion Act (OFRA) – 1967 that prescribes stringent provisions for conversion from one religion to another.

While the VHP delegation welcomed Judicial commission set up to  enquire into the communal disturbances in Kandhamal wanted Z category security for Swami Laxmananda in view of threat on his life. It may be noted that Swamiji has been attacked 9 times so far lethally.  

They also demanded setting up of a commission to scrutinize and enquire into flow of foreign funs to the Christian missionaries and their utilization.  

Simanchal Khatua
Pranta Prachar Pramukh