The Congress on Thursday backtracked on its proposal to ban the Bajrang Dal if the party won the Karnataka elections 2023. Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily on Thursday said that the state government can't actually ban an outfit. That power lies with the Centre.
"We haven't said we'll ban Bajrang Dal. We said organisations like PFI and Bajrang Dal disrupt peace in society. I was a law minister in Karnataka and let me tell you state government can't do it [ban an organisation]. Even Bajrang Dal can't be banned by the state government. Our state president DK Shivakumar will give you a detailed clarification about it. There was no such proposal," Moily said.
The U-turn by Congress came after BJP and Bajrang Dal workers held Hanuman Chalisa recitals across Karnataka on Thursday.
Congress, in its manifesto for the May 10 Assembly election in Karnataka, said it was committed to take firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred amongst communities on grounds of caste and religion.
In the manifesto, Congress said: "We believe that law and Constitution is sacrosanct and cannot be violated by individuals and organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities. We will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on such organisations".
Reacting to the Congress's U-turn, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) accused the Congress party of defaming the Bajrang Dal and has demanded an apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The VHP claims that the people of Karnataka will not forgive the Congress for its actions and will make them pay in the upcoming assembly polls on May 10. The Bajrang Dal is the youth wing of the RSS-affiliated VHP.
VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain slammed the Congress, saying that it did not have the political or social stature required to take action against the Bajrang Dal. He stated that the people of the country are with the Bajrang Dal, a "patriotic organisation that is always ready to serve and protect society". VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal echoed Jain's sentiments, demanding an apology from the Congress and a change in their manifesto.