Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] on Tuesday condemned the renewed violence at Kandhamal in Orissa and asked the state government to maintain utmost vigil and ensure law and order and protection to life and property of all citizens.

Dr Singh also appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony.

The latest violence at Kandhamal comes barely a day after the European Commission condemned the "massacre" of minorities in India.

The EC also expressed trust in the prime minister and his ability to control such violence.

EC President Jose Manuel Barrosso said on Monday they were reassured of India's determination to control such incidents.

Barrosso, at a joint press conference along with Dr Singh and French President Nicolas Sarkozy after the ninth India-EU Summit in Paris, however, admitted that it was India's internal matter.

"I know it is an internal matter of India," he said.

Dr Singh, describing the incidents as a "national shame", said India is a secular state and a multi-racial and multi-religious country where the Constitution guaranteed right to religion.

Admitting that there had been "sporadic incidents" in India, the prime minister said the government had taken a firm decision to prevent "such acts of national shame." He reaffirmed his government's stand of secular values and respect to the rights of all minorities.