Both Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Union Home Minister L K Advani, the two most important leaders in the Government, spoke with Orissa Chief Minister J B Patnaik over the telephone and asked him to immediately arrest the culprits, ``whoever they may be.''

For the first time since its forged ties with the BJP at the Centre, the TDP held that the Vajpayee Government had lost the moral right to govern the country in the light of growing attacks on the minorities. The matter, however, assumed serious proportions this morning when President Narayanan himself - in a highly unusual move, say observers - issued a statement saying the barbaric killings, ``belonged to the world's inventoryof black deeds.''

Even in party circles, the President's lashing is being seen more as an oblique attack on the BJP Government - the second within a month. Earlier, he had altered his New Year message following reports of attacks on Gujarat Christians, thereby giving the Government his first rap on its knuckles.

Narayanan's statement read: ``That someone who had spent years caring for patients of leprosy, instead of being thanked and role-modelled, should be done to death in this manner is a monumental aberration from the traditions of tolerance and humanity for which India has been known. I condemn the criminal act and join the nation in conveying our deepest sympathy to Mrs Staines (the widow) and the late priest's co-workers and friends.''

The Government is walking a tightrope on the matter, as evident from Advani holding an unscheduled meeting with Home Secretary B P Singh and other top officials in his North Block office this afternoon. While he is not yet open to the idea of dispatching a centralteam to Orissa - ``it's a State subject, not ours'', he is believed to have argued - he has asked from Singh and central intelligence agencies an ``accurate account'' of the killings in Orissa.

Later in the day, Advani followed it up by calling up Patnaik. The conversation lasted for about 10 minutes and ended with the Home Minister directing the Chief minister to nab the culprits at the earliest.

Vajpayee too called up Patnaik and placed the same demand. Asked about the alleged involvement of the Bajrang Dal in the killings, the Prime Minister said, ``The culprits, whoever they may be, must be severely punished. It is the State Government's responsibility to apprehend them.'' Advani held that ``the dastardly act could not but be condemned by all.''

The increasing international concern on attacks on Indian Christians is not lost on the Government either. Germany and the United States were today joined by Australia in condemning the killings.

Rob Laurie, the Australian High Commissioner in India, todayspoke to Home Secretary B P Singh in this regard. Laurie, it is learnt, also contacted Orissa Resident Commissioner Jaideep Patnaik here and inquired about the incident. According to the Australian spokesperson, the High Commissioner was in constant touch with the authorities in Orissa and directed senior counsellor-officer David Poulter to proceed to the scene of crime.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has asked for Central intervention in Orissa.