Mallikarjun Kharge: In a defamation lawsuit for equating the banned Islamic group Popular Front of India (PFI) with Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the Sangh-affiliated Vishwa Hindu Parishad, in its Karnataka Assembly election manifesto, a Punjab court on Monday summoned Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge. After receiving a complaint from a man named Hitesh Bhardwaj, who claims to be the leader of an organisation called “Bajrang Dal Hindustan,” the Sangrur district court summoned the Congress President. He claimed that during the recently finished state elections, the Congress linked the Bajrang Dal to “anti-national organisations like SIMI and Al-Qaeda” in its manifesto.
Congress Party’s Manifesto Promises Decisive Action Against Hate Incitement
‘The Congress Party is dedicated to taking forceful and decisive action against people and groups inciting hatred among groups of people based on their religion or caste. The Congress platform, titled “Sarva Janangada Shanthiya Thota” (peaceful garden of all communities),’ stated that the party would take “decisive action” as required by law, including banning them, if elected to power in the state. In its manifesto, the Congress specifically included the Bajrang Dal when it pledged to outlaw groups that foster “enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities.”
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Congress Faces Criticism and Clarifies Stance
On election results day, outgoing Karnataka minister and BJP leader CN Ashwathnarayan, who successfully defended his seat in the Malleshwaram district, urged the Congress to outlaw the Bajrang Dal, an organisation frequently associated with vigilantism, violence, and moral policing. “How could they ever consider outlawing Bajrang Dal. Laissez-eux try. We’ll demonstrate our abilities,” he stated. But after receiving a lot of criticism from BJP politicians, including public jeers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at electoral rallies, the Congress was forced to clarify its pledge.
Congress Worker Proclaims Lord Hanuman’s Support
“BJP ke nahi Congress ke sath hain, Bajrangbali… (Lord Bajrangbali is with the Congress, not with the BJP),”One of the workers, dressed as Hanuman, declared, “He has imposed a fine on the BJP.” The grand old party had stated that it had “no proposal to ban the Bajrang Dal” because doing so fell beyond the purview of the federal government. However, it went on to achieve a resounding victory in Karnataka, taking 135 of the state’s 224 Assembly seats. When the Prime Minister compared Lord Hanuman to the Bajrang Dal, the party retaliated by accusing him of “hurting religious sentiments” and calling for an apology. When the Prime Minister compared Lord Hanuman to the Bajrang Dal, the party retaliated by accusing him of “hurting religious sentiments” and calling for an apology.
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