To claim that the violence is not due to conversion is both true and false - hence it is a tight rope walk by BJD-BJP govt in Orissa. True because local factors such as a Christian group claiming ST status, false because conversion by Christians and resistance by Hindus is the prime factor for Swami Lakshmanananda's murder and which fuelled public anger. In spite of CM's rejoinder to Shivraj Patil's dismissal threat, it looks like Naveen is perturbed. With very little life left in the 14th Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha having UPA majority, a dismissal now can be sustained for six months, however, illogical such dismissal might be. It would give UPA some hold on the local administration during Lok Sabha elections which they feel can be used to win more MP seats. But I doubt such a thing would happen. Most of Orissa people are against the Christian missionary activities and any amount of whitewashing by state govt. or centre will not cut ice with the fact that the main reason for trouble in Kandhamal is the conversion activities by some Christian groups.
