The political slugfest began after the Congress put RSS-affiliate Bajrang Dal alongside PFI to propose banning all outfits that spread hatred.
Bajrang Dal members during a rally in Hyderabad. (Twitter)
A new political slugfest in Karnataka began on Tuesday, 2 May, after the Congress “promised” in its election manifesto to ban outfits like the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Bajrang Dal that spread hatred if it was voted to power.
The Congress was committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations such as the Bajrang Dal and the PFI “spreading hatred” among communities on grounds of caste and religion, it said in its election manifesto.
The Bajrang Dal, which borrows its name from one of the names of the Hindu deity Lord Hanuman, is an affiliate outfit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the BJP. It is, in fact, the youth wing of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).
Within hours of the Congress’ announcement to ban outfits including the Bajrang Dal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to its defence and used the religion card.
During his election rally in Karnataka, Modi hit out at the Congress saying: “It wants to lock up those who worship Lord Hanuman.”
Bajrang Dal members are notorious for incidents of moral policing and violent assault on citizens in public places.
For example, its members were the chief suspects in the death of two Muslim cattle traders in Bhiwani in February this year.
The Congress was quick to respond to the statement and accused Modi of hurting the religious sentiments of devotees by equating Lord Hanuman with the Bajrang Dal — a vigilante group that indulges in violence — and demanded an apology from him.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said it is shameful that the prime minister had drawn such a parallel which was an insult to crores of devotees of Lord Hanuman.
“The prime minister is insulting our faith in Lord Hanuman. He should apologise to the country as he has hurt our religious sentiments. No one has given the prime minister the right to insult Bajrang Bali,” he told reporters.
Addressing an election rally in Hospet in the Vijayanagara district of Karnataka, Modi said: “I have come to the land of Hanuman. I am fortunate that I got the opportunity to pay my obeisance to the land of Hanuman but see the misfortune that when I have come to pay my respect to Hanuman’s land, at the same time, Congress in its manifesto has decided to lock up Lord Hanuman.”
He added: “Initially, they locked up Prabhu Shri Ram (Lord Ram). And now they want to lock up people who say Jai Bajrang Bali’.”
The prime minister continued: “It is the misfortune of the country that the Congress had a problem with Prabhu Shri Ram and now it has a problem with the people who say ‘Jai Bajrang Bali’.”
Modi’s remarks came near what was the capital city of the Vijayanagara empire — Hampi, which is considered the birthplace of Lord Hanuman.
The Vijayanagara empire of Krishnadeva Raya is considered by some historians as the “Kishkindha Kshetra” — the monkey kingdom of Vaali and Sugreeva of the Treta Yuga or the Ramayana era.
“Right next to Hampi is Anjanadri, the Anjana Hill at Gangavathi in the Koppal district, which is believed by many to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. The BJP has decided to build a grand Hanuman temple at Anjanadri Hill and develop the region,” Modi said.
The Congress said in its manifesto that the actions would include a “ban” against the organisations that were ‘spreading hate’.
The BJP accused the Congress of “insulting” Lord Hanuman by promising to ban the Bajrang Dal.
Talking to reporters in New Delhi, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that the Congress promise in its Karnataka poll manifesto to ban the Bajrang Dal was an attempt to “save” the PFI, an outfit banned in the country.
“Today, the Congress released its manifesto, a bundle of lies, given the Karnataka polls… This is audacious and the height of appeasement politics. This is the Congress attempt to save PFI by insulting Lord Hanuman,” Patra told reporters.
He said the Congress had made such a promise in the “holy land” of Karnataka.
“Hanuman ji Karnataka ke gauravshali dev hain, Karnataka ki bhoomi Hanuman ji ki bhoomi hai. Congress ne hamare devta ka apman kiya hai (Lord Hanuman is the pride of Karnataka. Karnataka is the land of Lord Hanuman and Congress has insulted our lord,” Patra said.
“This is audacious…Karnataka is not going to tolerate this kind of insult hurled on our Lord Hanuman ji,” he said, adding the people of the state will give a reply to the Congress when they go to vote on 10 May.
The VHP slammed the Congress for promising to ban the Bajrang Dal in Karnataka if voted to power in the state, saying the party had defamed a “nationalist” organisation by doing so.
In a video message, VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain said the Bajrang Dal would take the Congress’ poll promise to ban it as a challenge and give a reply to the party in “democratic ways”.
“While releasing its manifesto for the Karnataka polls, the way the Congress has compared the Bajrang Dal, a nationalist organisation, with the PFI, an infamous anti-national, terrorist and banned organisation, is unfortunate,” he said.
The Bajrang Dal was slated to stage a protest outside the Congress’ Delhi office on Tuesday.
Every member of the Bajrang Dal was “dedicated” to serving the country and society while the entire world was aware of the activities of the PFI, said Jain.
(With PTI inputs)
Apr 25, 2024
Apr 25, 2024
Apr 25, 2024
Apr 25, 2024
Apr 25, 2024
Apr 25, 2024
