Allies pressurise Govt to ban Bajrang Dal | View chat

ON A RAMPAGE: All parties, except the BJP, have sought a ban on Bajrang Dal. (file photo)

      

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New Delhi: The UPA Government seems to be preparing the ground for action against fundamentalist Hindu organisations, which have been blamed for the recent spate of attacks against minorities across the country.

UPA allies are intensifying calls for a ban on the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) ahead of a special Cabinet meet that's reportedly likely to discuss the issue.

While Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal have always been known for their pro-minority stand, the latest to join the bandwagon is Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

Lashing out against police’s ‘double standards,’ he said culprits should be booked under law whether they are Hindus or Muslims.

“If Muslims are being targeted as terrorists, why no action is taken against Hindu groups like Sanatan Prabhat and Bajrang Dal,” Pawar said at the end of a two-day party meet in the coastal town of Alibaug in Maharashtra.

"Those who get involved in illegal activities and create enmity between the communities, whether they belong to Bajrang Dal or SIMI... I am not taking any names but same approach should be taken for everybody," he added.

Meanwhile, Minister of State Shakeel Ahmed Khan has said that though most parties support banning Bajrang Dal, the ministry does not want to take hasty decisions.

“There is sort of unanimous demand from all political parties, except the BJP, to ban Bajrang Dal.Government will certainly think over banning Bajrang Dal. If the situation doesn’t improve or we get any more complaints about Bajrang Dal or its activists, then Government of India will take appropriate actions,” Shakeel said.

But as far as the Christian community goes, the Church looks ready to forgive those who attacked their community.

The Missionaries of Charity says Christianity believes in forgiveness and the people who indulged in violence should be forgiven if they repent.

"Whatever happened (in Kandhamal) is not Hinduism. It's a devilish act. They (perpetrators of violence in Kandhamal) can be forgiven, provided they repent. They (Orissa government ) are finally acting strongly and this should continue," Superior-General of the Missionaries of Charity, Sister Nirmala, said.