Patil is said to have pointed out that required attention was not given by the state government to strengthen the police force and said out of five India Reserve battalions sanctioned for Orissa, the state had raised only one.

He also said the paramilitary forces have spared no effort in providing personnel even at the cost of withdrawing them from other states.

Patil told the Chief Minister that in December, 2007, the Centre had rushed 600 paramilitary force personnel while in February this year 400 more jawans were sent in addition to 2400 personnel already deployed there.

After the killing of the VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati in August, 2000 more personnel were dispatched.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi said the Cabinet expressed serious concern on Orissa, particularly Kandhamal where ‘some organisations’ were actively taking part in the violence.

"The situation is very grave. The government is quite concerned," he said, adding that ‘Orissa government has to do more, which they are not doing’.

Asked whether imposition of President's rule in the state was discussed, he replied in the negative saying matters pertaining to the Constitution were not discussed arbitrarily.

Meanwhile, anguished over the situation in Orissa, RJD chief Lalu Prasad favoured invocation of a rarely used constitutional provision under Article 355 to check violence there.

"Our party's view is that the government has failed there. It is unable to protect citizens and attacks are continuing," he said.

Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes said a strong warning has been given to the state.