Modi whips up saffron sentiment in Bhubaneswar

After focusing on development all this while, Narendra Modi went back to his favoruite agenda in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

He skipped a rally in Kandhamal but brought up the issue in Bhubaneswar accusing the Naveen Patnaik government of shielding the killers of Swami Laxamanand, an incident that led to the attacks on Christians in Kandhamal.

"Swami Laxmananand's murder will consume Naveen Patnaik and his dreams.Swami ji's spirit will ensure all treacherous people are thrown out of Orissa's soil," said Narendra Modi.

Narendra Modi trying to whip up Hindu sentiment in his last rally for Sunday tried reminding people of the murder of Swami Laxmananand, an incident that sparked off anti-Christian riots across Kandhmal last year.

Earlier on Sunday, he addressed four rallies in Orissa but did not play the Hindutva card, focusing instead on development.

He was supposed to address a rally in Kandhamal but could not apparently due to bad light. But the local BJP candidate a former IPS officer made the Kandhmal riots an election issue.

"What happened in Kandhamal is no reason to be ashamed about, at least not for me. Today, Kandhamal symbolises Hindu culture," said Ashok Sahu, BJP Candidate , Raikia.

In neighbouring Udaigiri constituency, the worst affected in the communal riots, the BJP has given its ticket to Manoj Pradhan, currently in jail for four cases of murder and rioting.

The Sangh Parivar has already made its presence felt in Kandhamal. Now, the BJP feels its time for it to move in to reap its political benefits.