Bajrang Dal ban issue to be taken up at NIC meet: Paswan

New Delhi, Oct 12 (UNI) Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Ram Vilas Paswan today demanded that the issue of a ban on the Bajrang Dal be taken up at tomorrow's National Integration Council (NIC) meeting here.

Referring to the demand for ban on the Hindu religious group, Mr Paswan said he, along with Rashtriya Janata Party (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad, was concerned that the communal forces were looking for an excuse to spread the ''communal virus'' and wanted that the ban be considered seriously.

''We will take up this matter forcefully at tomorrow's NIC meeting,'' the Union Minister for Chemicals, Steel and Fertilisers told a press conference where he released the list of 44 party candidates for the coming Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, 12 for Mizoram and 11 for Rajasthan besides 10 from Delhi.

On a similar ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) workers, Mr Paswan said there was still no proof of its involvement in the recent bomb blasts.

Pointing at news about Bajrang Dal activists flashing swords at recent meetings, the Union Minister asked whether the organisation should not be banned.

Elections are due in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu&Kashmir Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Delhi.

He, however, was unequivocal that there was no question of entering into an alliance with the BJP.

He demanded a CBI probe into the death of party member and former MP Rajesh Kumar, saying he had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard.

Mr Paswan also announced that his party would launch a countrywide agitation on October 15 for extending reservation to Muslims.

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