Is the violence in Orissa affecting India's image?
NDTV Correspondent
Thursday, August 28, 2008:
At least 20 people have so far died in Kandhamal district of Orissa following the murder of senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Lakhsmanada Saraswati and his four followers.
Kandhamal is a primarily tribal area, where Christians form almost 20 percent of the population.
According to reports, one cannot step out in Kandhamal. The atmosphere of fear is palpable and the slightest provocation can rekindle the communal fires as shoot at sight orders are in place.
And, making the matter worse is that fact that the incident is getting attention from world over. Today, Pope Benedict XVI condemned the violence, calling upon Indian religious and civil authorities "to work together to restore peaceful co-existence and harmony between the different religious communities".
In this backdrop, one is bound to think about the affects of incident on the global image of India. What’s your take?