Sangh Parivar calls off Orissa bandh

BHUBANESWAR: The Sangh Parivar on Friday called off its proposed Orissa bandh on December 25, the Christmas Day. The bandh was called off after a delegation comprising leaders from both the Sangh Parivar and Bharatiya Janata Party met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence in the evening. The Christian community had expressed apprehension that a Statewide bandh on the Christmas Day would create communal tension in riot-hit Kandhamal district and other areas. CM’s assurance The members of the delegation that met Mr. Patnaik include president of Lakshmanananda Saraswati Shrandhanjali Samiti Ratnakar Chaini, Laxmikant Dash of the Vanvasi Kalyan Samiti, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Chandan Mitra, BJP MP from the State Dharmendra Pradhan, and BJP Orissa unit president Suresh Pujari. According to Mr. Pradhan, the Samiti decided to call off the proposed bandh after Mr. Patnaik assured the delegation that the government would take all possible steps to ensure arrest of all those who were involved in the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati. more