Orissa CM: Bajrang Dal is a fundamentalist outfit

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik earlier this week termed the Bajrang Dal a 'fundamentalist' outfit.

The statement was made to a private news channel, as his state govt. came under pressure for its failure in handling the Orissa violence that left dozens dead and thousands homeless.

Patnaik told NDTV that many of those arrested for anti–Christian violence in the state were from the Bajrang Dal. But he refused to comment directly on a possible ban, saying he will only react when the Centre takes a final stand.

The CM further rebuffed the implementation of Article 355 saying, "President's rule in Orissa would be political misuse."

However contrary to the CM'statements, BJP chief Rajnath Singh last week tagged the Bajrang Dal a nationalist group and said, "a ban is nonessential".

At the National Integration Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the BJP leader supported the Bajrang Dal and said its existence is "no threat to the society".

Last week, National Security Advisor M K Naraynan told the news channel that "SIMI and Bajrang Dal are not two sides of the same coin, but both of them are dangerous." He added that "You can ban it (Bajrang Dal) but you will then not be able to sustain it."

Thereafter several political leaders voiced their concern over the communal violence instigated by saffron outfits in Orissa, Karnataka and other states.

An influential section of the UPA, including Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and Minister for Steel Ram Vilas Paswan, demanded a ban on Bajrang Dal.