We have no proposal to ban Bajrang Dal: Congress leader Veerapa Moily

Udupi: Senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily said that there was no proposal to ban the Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

The former chief minister of Karnataka appeared to be retracting his party’s promise, made in the election manifesto, of cracking down on radical groups in the state in the event of his party winning next polls.

The Congress released election manifesto on May 10, which triggered backlash from the BJP leaders including PM Modi.

Veerappa Moily reportedly said in Udupi that the Congress mentioned ‘both the PFI and the Bajrang Dal in the manifesto’, adding that Bajrang Dal cannot be banned by the Karnataka government as it is not possible for the state government.

Moily, who was also a former Union Minister, said that the Supreme Court has given judgment to stop hate politics, but he went to add that ‘we have no proposal to ban the Bajrang Dal’.

However, the Congress’ election manifesto declared that the party is commitment to take ‘firm and decision action’ against individuals and organizations spreading enmity and hatred be it is among majority or minority communities.

The manifesto, according to NDTV, named both the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Bajrang Dal and inclusion of Bajrang Dal invited criticism from PM Modi.

Modi accused the Congress of insulting Lord Hanuman, adding further he said the Congress had problem with Lord Ram.

The Congress quickly hit back demanding an apology from PM Modi for equating Lord Hanuman with the Bajrang Dal.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said PM Modi insulted devotees of Lord Hanuman by drawing parallel between Bajrang Dal and the deity.