Bhubaneswar: Levelling a serious allegation against the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government, the Odisha unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today held the state government responsible for the murder of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati in 2008.

Addressing a press conference here, senior BJP leader Pratap Sarangi said Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati was killed after a conspiracy.

"There was threat to the life of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati. However, the government didn't ensure his proper security. Providing him adequate security was the responsibility of the State Home Department, which was under CM Naveen Patnaik at that time," said Sarangi.

"I was an MLA at that time. I had questioned the CM in the Assembly for around 45 minutes. He didn't answer a single question. I had raised the matter of involvement of the then MP Radhakant Nayak and current BJD MP Sasmit Patra's father in the case," he said.

He further asked as to why the Odisha government has not made the reports in connection with the murder public.

Alleging that a conspiracy was behind the murder of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, Sarangi said lapses were made in his security intentionally by the Home Department.

The BJP leader urged the people of Odisha to dethrone the incumbent government.

Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples were murdered on 23 August 2008 in Kandhamal district. He was a Hindu monk and a Vishva Hindu Parishad leader.

Couple of days ago, BJD leader VK Pandian had held BJP responsible for Kandhamal riots, which took place after the killing of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati.