BENGALURU: Amid the row over the Congress manifesto mentioning the ban on Bajrang Dal, former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy said that the grand old party is raising the issue now, but did nothing during their rule in the state.
The remarks came in the wake of Congress’ manifesto for the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka, wherein the party bracketed outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI) and Bajrang Dal together and stated it will ban the organisations once it is voted to power.
“All those things are not important. When Congress ruled for five years, why did they not ban it then? Why are they raising the issue now? We have to change the culture of those organisations. We have to teach them how to behave in public life. That is important”, Kumaraswamy said.
On Wednesday, members of Bajrang Dal were detained by the police in Hyderabad for staging a protest against the Congress’ manifesto. Bajrang Dal protesters raised slogans against the Congress party in front of their party office in Bengaluru against the announcement in the manifesto.
The Congress, in its manifesto, said it will take “decisive action” as per law, including banning organisations like Bajrang Dal, the Popular Front of India and others. “The Congress party is committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred against communities on the grounds of caste and religion,” read the Congress manifesto. (ANI)