By Bizodisha Bureau in Bhubaneswar, February 25, 2015 :

Christian organizations and social activists have urged the Odisha government to ban entry of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) chief Praveen Togadia to sensitive Kandhamal district and impose prohibitory orders on the eve of proposed visit to the state on February 28.

Christian Public Welfare Association (CPWA) and local social activists here on Tuesday approached the district magistrate (DM) requesting him to clamp prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

The VHP, on the other hand, has called the move undemocratic.

The lawyers for the group argued before Kandhamal DM that Mr Togadia’s visit and his fiery speeches might upset the fragile peace between communities and requesting the DM to ban his visit by invoking Section-144 of CrPC.

The tribal-dominated Kandhamal district witnessed anti-Christian riots in 2008. Some 100 people were killed and thousands had to flee their homes from both communities in the riots that that started following the murder of Hindu saint Laxmanananda Saraswati.

Mr Togadia is scheduled to address a Hindu convention of the VHP at the coronation field of Phulbani town on February 28.

Local VHP leaders condemned the move to disrupt his visit and argued that Kandhamal is peaceful and doesn’t have a tense situation.

“Attempting to block a public gathering under such condition is unconstitutional and undemocratic. There would be unrest, should such a thing take place,” they have warned.

“We are considering all possible actions,” said regional joint secretary of VHP Priya Nath Sharma.

“We are keeping an eye on the issue. I will speak as and when it is needed,” said collector cum district magistrate of Kandhamal Noonsavath Thirumala Nayak, while acknowledging the importance of the issue.