New Delhi: New Delhi: A Punjab court on Monday (May 15) issued summons to Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge over party's poll promise to ban Bajrang Dal in Karnataka. The Sangrur district court summoned the Congress President in a Rs 100 crore defamation case.
The founder of Hindu Suraksha Parishad Bajrang Dal Hind had filed a defamation case in the local court against Kharge for making defamatory remarks against Bajrang Dal during the recently concluded Karnataka elections.
Ban on Bajrang Dal
Congress in its manifesto for recently concluded Karnataka Assembly elections compared Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the Sangh-affiliated Vishwa Hindu Parishad, with the banned Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) and promised to impose similar restrictions on the right-wing group. According to Congress, Bajrang Dal promotes "enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities".
Congress president released the party's manifesto titled 'Sarva Janangada Shanthiya Thota' and reiterated its five guarantees -- 'Gruha Jyoti', 'Gruha Lakshmi', 'Yuva Nidhi', 'Anna Bhagya', and 'Shakti'. "We believe that law and constitution are sacrosanct and cannot be violated by individuals and organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities. We will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on such organisations," the manifesto said.
The Congress, however, was forced to clarify its promise after massive backlash from BJP leaders, including attacks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at election rallies. The Congress has decided "to lock up" Bajrang Bali devotees, said PM Modi, and urged voters to chant 'Jai Bajrangbali' and punish those who "abuse culture". Clarifying the manifesto the grand old party had said that it had "no proposal to ban the Bajrang Dal" because banning an organisation like it comes under the central government.
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