Press Statement By
BJP National President Shri Rajnath Singh

Condemns killing of five people in Orissa

New Delhi - August 24, 2008

The brutal killing of 5 people including Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati in Orissa yesterday is an act of cowardice and a conspiracy of vitiating the atmosphere of peace and harmony in the State. The anti-national elements have been increasingly targeting the forces of integration in India and trying hard to weaken the nationalist resolve for the past four years or so.

Swamiji dedicated his entire life working for social and economic empowerment of the tribal people in Orissa. His murder has dealt a big blow to the process of upliftment of poor and deprived class. I condemn in the strongest terms the killing of Swamiji and four other social activists. I am confident that the State Government will take speedy action against the perpetrators of this heinous act.

I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the people killed in this incident.