Communal violence: Odisha must rein in troublemakers
The Tribune Editorial: The disturbing incidents have shown the year-old Mohan Charan Majhi’s BJP government in a very poor light.
CUTTACK, a city renowned for its tradition of bhaichara (brotherhood), is limping back to normalcy days after it was rocked by communal violence. Clashes broke out in Odisha’s cultural capital when a procession was heading towards a river to immerse Durga idols. There was more trouble later when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) accused the police of failing to take action against rioters and took out a motorcycle rally — allegedly in defiance of the administration’s orders. Protesting bikers clashed with the police when they were stopped from entering a communally sensitive area, even as arson attacks were carried out at several places. It was a shock for residents to watch their peaceful city being sullied by the communal virus, which has sparked tensions during festivals in several parts of the country in recent years.
