Ban on Bajrang Dal to be discussed at Cabinet Meeting today

There might be a possible ban on Bajrang Dal, as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calls for a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Following violence against Christians in Orissa and Karnataka, the Bajrang Dal publicly claimed responsibility for the atrocities and threatened more such attacks on the minority community, accusing them of “forced conversions”.

Besides Lalu Prasad and Ramvilas Paswan — key constituents of UPA — Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and Digvijay Singh have demanded a ban on the Hindu militant organisation.

Union Minister of State for Home, Shakeel Ahmad on Tuesday said, the Bajrang Dal is a terrorist outfit and the central government will not hesitate to ban it like it outlawed the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

"There is little doubt that the Bajrang Dal is a terrorist outfit involved in creating terror. The central government may ban it as it has banned SIMI," Ahmad said.

Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan clearly stated there is a "suitable case for ban, including the VHP."

She alleged that Bajrang Dal apart from indulging in large–scale violence has also spread communal hatred.

More than half of the arrested in Karnataka, belong to the Bajrang Dal outfit, she charged.

"It is unclear why the reign of terror has been let lose against the minority community in such a vicious manner," Natarajan said, adding, "the state government (Orissa) has only allowed the situation to deteriorate.”

In addition, the National Commission for Minorities too has sought for such an action against the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

“Outfits like the Bajrang Dal are out to destroy communal harmony and the very basis of our Constitution. It is the duty of the Government to see that such outfits do not grow. The commission strongly feels that the Bajrang Dal should be banned. Further, it also wants the Centre to take drastic measures in Orissa as the state has completely failed on this count,” Commission chairperson Mohamed Shafi Qureshi said.

In its report to the Prime Minister, it succinctly urged for a ban on Bajrang Dal and said, "The state must keep a close watch on the activities of all organisations that have contributed to the breakdown of communal harmony."

During the mayhem since August 23, over 100 churches were torched and some 4,500 homes razed by members of Hindu fanatic groups.

A nun was brutally gang–raped and two burnt alive. Over 25,000 Christians are still camped at the refugee camps spread over the district.