'Won't Ban Bajrang Dal But...': Digvijaya Singh Clears Stand Ahead Of Madhya Pradesh Polls

Congress' poll promise in Karnataka of banning outfits like Bajrang Dal had turned into a major controversy, with BJP making it a big issue during campaigns.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh

Source : PTI

Veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday said Congress won't ban Bajrang Dal if the party won the upcoming Madhya Pradesh Assembly election but would not spare anyone instigating riots or violence.

"We will not ban Bajgranj Dal (if we win polls in Madhya Pradesh) as there can be some good people in Bajrang Dal as well, but we will not spare anyone involved in riots or violence," ANI quoted Digvijaya Singh as saying.

Digvijaya Singh, who is part of the Congress' Madhya Pradesh election committee headed by Kamal Nath, made the remarks at a media briefing.

The Bajrang Dal, set up during the Ram temple movement, is the youth wing of the right-wing organisation Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). Madhya Pradesh goes to polls this year along with Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Maizoram.

Earlier this year, Congress' poll promise in Karnataka of banning outfits like Bajrang Dal had turned into a major controversy, with BJP making it a big issue during its campaigns. However, the issue failed to have any major impact as Congress won 135 seats and returned to power.

The issue was even raked up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had urged the public to say "Jai Bajrangbali" while voting. The BJP had said the Congress' proposal to ban Bajrang Dal was an insult to Lord Hanuman.

"The Congress in its manifesto has decided to lock up Lord Hanuman. Initially, they locked up Prabhu Shri Ram (Lord Ram). And now they want to lock up people who say 'Jai Bajrang Bali'," PM Modi had said during campaigning.

The Bajrang Dal was recently in the spotlight when a religious procession taken out by it in Haryana's Nuh district triggered communal clashes. Six people, including two home guards and a cleric, died in the violence. The violence also spilled over to adjoining areas, including Gurugram.