Bajrang Dal at a glance

NEW DELHI: What is Bajrang Dal:
 
- The Bajrang Dal, youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), sees itself as militant standard bearers of the Hindu supremacist cause.

- It was formed Oct 1, 1984 in Kanpur.

- The outfit, which is not averse to resorting to militant means, claims to have 1.3 million members and about 2,500 'akhadas' (units).

- The Bajrang Dal's ideology is based on the philosophy of Hindutva, the Hindu nationalist ideology.

- Construction of Ram Mandir at the site of the razed Babri mosque at Ayodhya and prevention of cow slaughter are issues that form an integral part of its agenda.

- It was banned December 1992 along with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and VHP for its role in the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
 
- The ban on RSS and Bajrang Dal was revoked June 4, 1993.

- The group has been accused of involvement in anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat in 2002.

- In recent times, it has been accused of anti-Christian violence in Orissa and Karnataka.