Minority panel wants ban on Bajrang Dal

NEW DELHI: Taking a serious note of the Bajrang Dal’s role in attacks on churches in BJP-ruled Karnataka, the National Commission for Minorities has suggested a ban on such organisations “responsible for breakdown of communal harmony”.

In its report submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a few days back the commission said, “The state must keep a close watch on the activities of all such organisations that have contributed to the breakdown of communal harmony there. Remedial action, including a ban and prosecution should be initiated.”

The commission, led by chairman Md Shafi Qureshi, visited Karnataka’s trouble-torn Mangalore, Bangalore and Udupi districts from September 16-18. The report said the Udupi district magistrate and SSP told them that all the 17 persons arrested for violence belonged to the Bajrang Dal. Even in Bangalore, of the 83 persons lodged in judicial custody for communal clashes, 36 belonged to the Bajrang Dal, the NCM report said.

The NCM team also cited the case of Bajrang Dal state chief Mahendra Kumar, who reportedly issued statements claiming he had damaged the prayer halls in Karnataka.