“The Centre will fulfil its responsibilities,” Additional Solicitor Gopal Subramanium told a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan when a petition seeking a CBI probe into incidents of violence against Christians in the state was mentioned before it.

The Bench, which at first wanted petitioner and Archbishop of Cuttack Raphael Cheenath to approach the Orissa High Court, agreed to grant urgent hearing on Wednesday after the ASG intervened and conveyed instructions received from the Centre.

“Necessary steps will be taken,” Subramanium said and asked the Bench to hear the matter on Wednesday.

The ASG said he would personally interact with the Home Secretary and discuss the issues raised in the petition.

Archbishop’s counsel Colin Gonsalves, who mentioned the petition, said that he cannot go to Orissa as he fears threat to his life.

“The situation is tense and it is difficult for the Archbishop to move in the state as he has received threatening letters,” the counsel said.

He said after VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, head of a local mutt in Orissa, was allegedly assassinated on August 23, his supporters have threatened to kill the Archbishop.