Clamour to ban Bajrang Dal grows, UPA Govt cautious

LAW BREAKERS: Bajrang Dal activists are reportedly involved in acts of violence against minorities.

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New Delhi: The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government seems to be preparing the ground for action against Hindutva organisations blamed for a spate of attacks on minorities across the country.

Many UPA partners are intensifying calls for a ban on the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad with some Congress members like Jayanthi Natarajan also joining the clamour.

Both Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad are being called the lunatic fringe of the saffron brigade and after reports of their involvement in various acts of violence, the demand for a ban on it has never been stronger.

Even mainstream political parties, see an opportunity to hit back at the Sangh Parivar which had earlier demanded a similar ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)

"Those who are involved in illegal activities and are creating enmity between communities whether it is the Bajrang Dal or whether it is SIMI, same approach should be taken against them including Bajrang Dal," Sharad Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party chief, says.

But banning Bajrang Dal may not be as simple because it is very difficult to identify its members and its network in the country.

And even though it has a pan Indian presence, Bajrang Dal remains a shadowy organisation. It has no national executive, nor does it have a written constitution.

And despite its claim of a million strong membership, Bajrang Dal does not have a list of its members nor does it have an official membership form.

The BJP conveniently claims that Bajrang Dal is a separate entity. But it still defends the Dal as a nationalist group.

"We should not equate nationalist organisations with terrorist organisations. Law and order problems should not be combined with terrorist problems," senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Venkaiah Naidu reasons.

The UPA Government is also taking a very cautious stand on the issue of ban.

"If there are more complaints against the Bajrang Dal and its members then the Government of India will take action," Union Minister of State for Home Shakeel Ahmed says.

From attacking Valentine's Day celebrations to brutally attacking minorities and now the violence in Orissa, the government will soon have to find a solution to deal with the rogue brigade.