Holding Congress responsible for tarnishing the country's image and projecting it as an intolerant society, where minorities are insecure, the BJP said, "It was typical of the Congress to heighten social and communal tensions." Throwing a challenge to the Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the BJP has dared her to a public debate on communalism.

"The net effect of this Congress campaign of calumny, along with the distorted reporting of events by the foreign media, against the Sangh Parivar and the Hindu community was India's portrayal as an intolerant nation, where the Hindu majority persecutes religious minorities. This is not the first time that Indians have been given a bad name because of Congress-Communist propaganda.

Mr Modi said now that the report has become public, Congress' propaganda lies exposed. The report has indicted the Congress ruled Orissa government for its failure to take adequate measures to prevent such incidents. The BJP and Vajpayee government have been vindicated. The Congress president and her colleagues are guilty of preaching falsehood and exacerbating communal and social tensions through vicious lies.

The BJP spokesperson said, even in the Jhabua incident (a nun was raped), the Congress immediately raised an accusing finger against the BJP. But subsequent enquires revealed that most of the culprits involved in the unsavoury incident were associated with the Congress.

Replying to a question about the main accused Dara Singh, Mr Modi said, "The Bajrang Dal has earlier clarified that he was not associated with the organisation."

Mr Modi said the report has nowhere indicated the involvement of any organisation. He said the report states: "The act of murdering Staines and his two children was inspired by Dara Singh and his clout and no authority, organisation or any other person played a role in it or were connected with the killings. There is no evidence that any authority or organisation was behind the gruesome killings.

The report on the contrary has questioned the administrations efficiency. "There are various reasons, which lead to the conclusion that an efficient and responsive administration could have prevented this unfortunate incident." The report also urged the Congress-ruled State to strengthen its law and order machinery and avoid the frequent illogical and irrational transfers of officers, specially of District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police.

Mr Modi said the most appalling aspect pointed out by the report, was the manner in which Congress-ruled State Government doctored the FIR. "FIR registered in the case does not represent true state of affairs. It is certainly a tampered document. "The arrest of 51 persons initially in connection with this case, was apparently without any basis. Their detention for over two months in custody appears prima facie to be unjustified.