Rahul Gandhi's four-day visit to thirteen districts of Orissa in March might have ruffled feathers within the party and the ruling BJD-BJP, but was seen as a sincere effort in trying to meet the people and understand their problems. The visit was reminiscent of his father's famous visit to Orissa particularly to Kalhandi in the eighties after India Today reported sale of a child by the parents due to crushing poverty.
Rahul Gandhi visited remote villages in Koraput and Ganjam districts where he was told not to go because of security reasons. Rahul Gandhi commented on the state's poverty. Orissa is rich, not you, he said. Aides who were travelling with him told this writer that the meeting with the tribal people had gone down well. He also said mining in the hills of Orissa would damage the environment. This 'Discover India' tour was supposed to set the tone for his discovery of India tour. That was then.
Orissa is now burning. After the murder of a VHP leader in Kandhamal district on Janmasthami day, Bajrang Dal and VHP thugs have burnt more than a dozen churches, killed more than 17 people and attacking Christians in eastern Orissa-all this in the presence of the. Despite shoot-on-sight orders the violence continues in Orissa. It is a distinct characterstic of the Indian state where despite a large presence of security personnel in such situations have their way be it in Gujarat or Orissa. Though the Maoists have admitted to the killing, VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders have squarely blamed the Christians behind the murder. Christian groups have sought the deployment of the Indian Army. Like as usual, the state and the Centre will take time to stop the violence and bring in some swift and effective action. It is time Rahul Gandhi visited Orissa before it snowballs further.
If he can shed his political skin and talk as an Indian rallying for the cause of a Kalavati or a Sasikala in the parliament during the trust vote proceedings, why can't he now visit Kandhamal. It is now that the state needs him, when it is burning.
During his March visit, close aides had given him a white paper on the problems confronting the state and religious violence was one. The paper clearly stated the causes and reasons for the religious violence in the state. So, it is not as if Rahul Gandhi does not know the communal antecedents in the state. In that case, should he not be in Orissa than touring Allahabad?
Orissa can never be rich till the time the social fabric of the state attains a certain level of civility. Whichever establishment is in power needs to understand this and work towards primarily diagnosing the problems like naxalism, poverty, tribal issues, health, employment and environmental degradation and solving them. The state needs a balm. Rahul Gandhi can bring in that balming effect, calm tempers, assuage emotions and appeal to all rabid thugs who are on a killing spree.
Orissa needs him now.
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