Centre seeks details about Bajrang Dal activities from states

New Delhi, Nov 12 (UNI) In view of the intelligence reports about links of Hindu fundamentalist organisations with terror and mounting pressure from allies to ban the Bajrang Dal, the Centre has asked states to send details about its activities.

''Some incidents of communal violence have taken place in some parts of the country recently. This has led to demands for strict action against the individuals and groups involved in the incidents.

In this regard, Ministry of Home Affairs has written to the State Governments and sought details of the action they may have taken, '' an official spokesman said here today.

The Home Ministry has sent a strongly-worded letter to all state governments asking them to send details of activities of the Bajrang Dal. The letter says the activities of groups like the Bajrang Dal have tarnished the image of the country internationally.

There are allegations of the Dal's involvement in not just communal violence but for the first time, the Dal has been linked to the recent bomb blasts in the country, the letter states.

The Home Ministry says demand for taking legal action against not just the Bajrang Dal but all such groups is mounting.

However, Home Minister Shivraj Patil had earlier said that none of the state governments have demanded for a ban on the Bajrang Dal.

According to him politicians were making the demands, state governments have not done that.

Earlier, Rashtriya Janata Dal President and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Lok Janshakti Party President Ram Vilas Paswan and many other political parties had demanded ban on Bajrang Dal following violence against Christians in Kandhamal district of Orissa and vandalisation of churches in Karnataka.

UNI AJ RP NS2002