Congress demands ban on Bajrang Dal

New Delhi, Oct 8 (UNI) Asserting that there is strong evidence against the Bajrang Dal pointing to its continued involvement in violence, arson, murder and loot for 24 years, the Congress today demanded a ban on the outfit under the Prevention of Unlawful Activities act.

''There is irrefutable evidence which make a strong case for banning the Bajrang Dal,'' AICC Spokesman Manish Tewari told mediapersons.

Asked why the UPA government had been delaying a decision on banning Bajrang Dal, he said, ''When you are talking about ban...every ban has to stand judicial scrutiny.'' In this context, he said he had only articulated the stand of the Congress which was an independent political entity. ''I do not speak for the ruling UPA government.'' Asked if the Congress considered the Bajrang Dal as a terrorist organisation, he said ''there are instances of violence, arson and loot over a spectrum of 24 years. Therefore, we demand a ban on the Bajrang Dal. But we don't call them a terrorist organisation." He said the Congress was demanding a ban as it would not allow the Bajrang Dal to conduct unlawful activities over ground.

Listing out the involvement of the Bajrang Dal in unlawful activities since 1984, he said outfit had been misusing the Hindu religion for the past 24 years.

Mr Tewari said the outfit was in the forefront during the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992.

In this context, he asked the Liberhan Commission, which had been inquiring into the Babri Masjid demolition, to submit its report at the earliest.

''The Commission has already taken about 16 years and that it should submit its report to bring out the truth behind the December 6, 1992 demolition.'' He alleged that the Bajrang Dal activists were behind the attack on minorities at Dang in Gujarat in 1998, destruction of the grave of a Sufi saint in Karnataka in 1999, disruption of Tipu Sultan's second centenary, killing of Christian missionary Graham Steins and his children and the violent attacks against miniorities in Orissa and Karnataka since August 23 this year.

UNI SH KK BD1811