Visiting diplomats from the European Union faced protest from Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists at the Bhubhaneshwar airport as soon as they landed in Orissa, on Tuesday. The diplomatic delegation comprised representatives from Hungary, Poland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Britain, Finland and Sweden. The delegation was on a four-day visit to the state during which they would go to Kandhamal district, 25 months after large-scale rioting.
Though the agitators failed to reach near the diplomats' cavalcade due to heavy security arrangements at the airport, they shouted slogans of "diplomats go back". Some agitators were later rounded up by the police. The diplomats are scheduled to go to Kandhamal on Thursday, after meeting state government officials and the director general of police in Bhubhaneshwar on Wednesday. They will make a night halt at Phulbani, the district headquarters of Kandhamal before they return to the state capital on Friday. Earlier, the VHP state leadership had strongly opposed the diplomats visit to Kandhamal and sought a withdrawal of permission given to them by the state government.
"The proposed visit of the EU delegation should be cancelled forthwith and the Orissa government must withdraw the permission granted for the purpose," VHP state secretary Gouri Kumar Rath told media-persons. Maintaining that peace had returned to the tribal dominated district after prolonged violence following the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati, he said the visit would only spark off fresh tension in the region.
Rath said only the Indian government can deal with the problems and added the diplomats should return from the state capital. "The diplomats will know for themselves about the situation in Kandhamal," according to Archbishop Raphael Cheenath. At least 38 people were killed and hundreds of houses damaged in the riot which took place in the aftermath of VHP leader Laxmananada Saraswati's killing on August 23, 2008.
