Bajrang Dal ban row: Congress promises Hanuman temples in Karnataka

BENGALURU/MANGALURU/MYSURU: The Congress said Thursday it is not considering any ban on Bajrang Dal, a move seen as a volte face after its manifesto for the May 10 assembly polls proposed to outlaw the right-wing organisation and it triggered widespread protests, with BJP running at full tilt on the rival party.
In what is largely being interpreted as a damage-control exercise, following the governing BJP’s attempts to stoke sentiments over the proposed ban on Bajrang Dal, Congress’s state unit head DK Shivakumar said the party was committed to developing Anjaneya (Hanuman) temples across the state, if voted to power.
“We will launch special schemes in the name of Lord Hanuman. In every taluk, to help the youth, we will launch programmes in his name. There are 25 temples between Mysuru and Bengaluru. Have BJP leaders evercared for those?” he asked, after visiting Chamundeshwari temple in Mysuru.
For its part, BJP continued to target Congress, with its election management committee chairperson Shobha Karandlaje leading the attack with a ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ recitation in Bengaluru.
According to Shivakumar, Congress has always been a devotee of Lord Hanuman. “But we will not allow anyone to take law in their own hands in the name of god by forming organisations and will initiate legal action against such forces. We only said this in our manifesto, but BJP is trying to use this as an emotional issue,” he said.
He said Congress will create an Anjanadri Development Board to develop the birthplace of Lord Hanuman, located atop the Anjanadri Hills in Koppal.
Earlier, former CM andex-Union minister Veerappa Moily said Congress had not said it would ban BajrangDal, but only organisations such as PFI and Bajrang Dal tend to disrupt peace in society. “I was a law minister in Karnataka. The state government cannot do it [ban anorganisation]. Even Bajrang Dal cannot be banned by the state government. There was no such proposal before us.”
Senior Congress functionary Manish Tewari said Thursday he chants from the ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ twice a day. He said BJP is reciting from the ‘Chalisa’ for political gains, while people chant the hymns daily from their heart. Bajrang Dal divisional convener Rajesh Gowda said Shivakumar’s “empire” will perish like Ravana’s Lanka.
In Hubballi-Dharwad, a call to recite the ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ by various organisations saw a rousing response with temples filled to the brim in places like Vidyanagar, Line Bazaar, and Bhagyanagar in Koppal.
Hundreds of Bajrang Dal workers, including women, participated in programmes organised in the Hanuman Mandir in Samyukta Maharashtra Chowk of Belagavi on Thursday evening.
According to Karnataka Dakshina Prantha joint secretary Sharan Pumpwell, ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ recital was held in more than 100 places i n Dakshina Kannada. “People have expressed their displeasure over the Congress manifesto proposing to ban Bajrang Dal. Let’s all leave aside differences and work unitedly for the protection of dh arma,” he said.