Ban call against Bajrang Dal, VHP gathers steam in UPA

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New Delhi, Oct 6: Invoking Article 356 against Naveen Patnaik government in Orissa for failure to protect minorities may yet be a premature preposition, but frontal organisations of the Sangh Parivar, who have been blamed for the recent spate of attacks against Christians, do not seem to be similarly insulated as the call for a ban against them has picked up significantly within the UPA.

Echoing such sentiments, the Congress on Monday officially said that the Bajrang Dal as well as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad were ‘‘eminently suitable cases’’ for banning. The NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday had similarly remarked that if Muslims were being targetted as terrorists, then he did not see any reason why action should not be taken against ‘‘Hindu groups like the Sanatan Prabhat and the Bajrang Dal’’.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal, Lok Janshakti Party led by Ram Vilas Paswan and the Samajwadi party—all known for their pro-minority stand—have already been calling for a ban on the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad. AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh this evening supported the demand, saying that such groups should be banned as some of their members too had been found to be involved in bomb blasts.

The imposition of Article 355 or 356 in Orissa, however, does not seem to be in the making with UPA circles conceding that the government may not have the required numerical strength in parliament to back any such action. ‘‘There is merit in the demand for invoking Article 356 in Orissa, but one is not certain whether government will be able to carry both houses on the issue’’ Digvijay Singh told reporters. ‘‘What is the point of issuing only a notification’’ he contended.

On its part, the BJP leadership warned the UPA against making any such move. ‘‘If the Congress party wants to politicise developments in Orissa by plotting to bring the state under the President’s rule, then I can only warn them not to indulge in such misadventure’’ the party’s prime ministerial candidate LK Advani said this evening.

That the Manmohan Singh government was likely to wait and watch was apparent with the decision to call a meting of the National Integration Council on October 13, where the issue of communal harmony will be discussed. The expectation is that the NDA led government in Orrisa will come under heavy fire at the meeting.