Bajrang Dal is a terrorist outfit: Shakeel Ahmed

Patna, Oct 7 (UNI) Union Minister of state for Home Shakeel Ahmad today branded Barjrang Dal as a terrorist outfit and said the Centre will not hesitate to ban it.

Mr Ahmad, who is on a five-day tour of the state said here that the Central government will not hesitate to ban the dal like it outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

'' If four or five states sends their report against Bajrang Dal the Centre will not hesitate to ban it, he added.

The minister further stated that the outfit which spreads terror in the society was obviously a terrorist organisation and imposing ban on it would be justified.

The activities of Bajrang Dal cadres had unleashed a reign of terror specially in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa, he said adding it was ''unfortunate'' that the state governments were in their support where ever the outfit was active.

He recalled that on the basis of the reports of six state governments regarding SIMI, the outfit was banned.

The administrative reform committee had suggested for stringent law to tackle terrorism.

He admittd that the outfits like Bajrang Dal and SIMI had affected the social harmony in the country.

He further said SIMI was banned but Bajrang dal was left.

Mr Ahmad also expressed concern over the growing naxalism and said an integrated central force named as ''Cobra Force'' had been created to counter the menace. The force had also been entrusted with the responsibility to prevent the youth in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand from being lured by the extremists to their outfits.

The Centre had sanctioned Rs 500 crore to the extremist infested state governments for modernisation of their police force, he informed.

UNI RS RH KLC PD VC1728