CPI(M) demands ban on Shri Ram Sene

The CPI(M) on Tuesday, demanded a ban on the Hindu right-wing group Shri Ram Sene, which carried out an assault on some people at a Mangalore pub, and alleged that the BJP government in Karnataka had not acted firmly against the "extremists".

"The BJP state government has not acted firmly in taking action against this Hindu extremist outfit," the party Politburo said.

Accusing the group of being "responsible for a series of attacks on churches in Mangalore and targeting Christians in other places", the CPI(M) said "the failure to take firm action in these instances and the efforts to soft-pedal their activities by the home minister then have emboldened the group".

It demanded the arrest of all Sene leaders and "immediate steps to proscribe the organisation's activities".