Naveen Patnaik 'anti-Hindu', says VHP

Terming Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik 'anti-Hindu', the VHP today said it would launch a statewide campign to generate awareness on the necessity to protect Hindu religion.

"The Orissa government knows who killed Swami Laxamananda Saraswati and who are the people behind the murder. But the government takes no action against the culprits," VHP leader Ashok Singhal told reporters.

He said eight months had passed since the killing of Saraswati, but yet the government could not arrest culprits.

Alleging that Patnaik was adopting a 'minority appeasement' policy like other parties, Singhal said that an Orissa bandh called by Swami Laxamananda Saraswati Sradhanjali Samiti on December 25 was postponed on the assurance that the culprits would be arrested within two months.

Singhal said Hindu saints were worried over the killing and humiliation of sadhus at different places in the country.
Replying to a question on the ruling BJD severing its ties with the BJP, Singhal said that the VHP was least bothered over the development.