Former Karnataka deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa on Thursday torched a copy of the Congress’ manifesto to protest the grand old party’s proposal to ban the right-wing group Bajrang Dal if they are voted to power in the poll-bound state.

Lashing out at the Congress for their proposal to ban the Sangh-affiliated Hindutva outfit, Eshwarappa said the manifesto of the Congress seems more like a “manifesto of Muslim League” (of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah) and how “dare” the Congress talk about banning a “patriotic organisation” like Bajrang Dal.

Eshawarappa , a former chief of the Karnataka BJP accused Karnataka Congress President D K Shivkumar and former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah of trying to spread communal hatred, and said that both Shivkumar and Siddaramaiah should be arrested and action must be taken against them.

The former State BJP chief said: “(KPCC President) D K Shivakumar says the entire Vokkaliga community is behind him and he will become Chief Minister, (Congress leader) Siddaramaiah says backward classes are with him, and he will become Chief Minister”, accusing the two leaders of trying to spread hatred amongst communities.

On Tuesday, the Congress in its manifesto for the upcoming May 10 polls in Karnataka, had said that it was committed to taking “firm and decisive action” against individuals and organizations spreading “enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities.”

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The Congress manifesto had named Muslim outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), which is banned in some states for having alleged terrorist links, and the Bajrang Dal, a Sangh-backed right-wing Hindutva outfit that is often in the news for its alleged acts of cow vigilantism, violence and moral policing.

Bajrang Dal’s inclusion in the Congress manifesto had invited backlash from the members of the ruling BJP, including PM Modi, who accused the Congress of insulting Lord Hanuman, a deity revered by the Bajrang Dal cadres, adding that the Congress also had a problem with Lord Ram.

The Congress hit back at the Prime Minister and accused him of “hurting religious sentiments” of devotees by drawing parallels between Lord Hanuman and the Bajrang Dal and demanded an apology from him.

Talking to reporters, Congress spokesman Pawan Khera termed it “shameful” that PM Modi had equated Lord Hanuman with the Bajrang Dal, thus insulting the deity’s millions of devotees.

Earlier on Thursday, former Karnataka chief minister and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily said the party had no proposal to ban Bajran Dal as the state is not authorized to do so.

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Karnataka elections: No proposal to ban Bajrang Dal, says former CM Veerappa Moily on Congress manifesto

Former Karnataka chief minister and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily on Thursday said the party had no proposal to ban the right-wing Hindutva group Bajrang Dal, days after the grand old party’s manifesto sparked a row and invited backlash from the ruling BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a statement, Veerappa Moily said the Congress in its manifesto in poll-bound Karnataka, had mentioned both the PFI and the Bajrang Dal, and all other radical. However, Moily said, a state government cannot ban an outfit and the Congress has no proposal to ban the Bajrang Dal—the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad or VHP.

On Tuesday, the Congress in its manifesto for the upcoming May 10 polls in Karnataka, had said that it was committed to taking “firm and decisive action” against individuals and organizations spreading “enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities.”

The Congress manifesto had named Muslim outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), which is banned in some states for having alleged terrorist links, and the Bajrang Dal, a Sangh-backed right-wing Hindutva outfit that is often in the news for its alleged acts of cow vigilantism, violence and moral policing.

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Bajrang Dal’s inclusion in the Congress manifesto had invited backlash from the members of the ruling BJP, including PM Modi, who accused the Congress of insulting Lord Hanuman, a deity revered by the Bajrang Dal cadres, adding that the Congress also had a problem with Lord Ram.

The Congress hit back at the Prime Minister and accused him of “hurting religious sentiments” of devotees by drawing parallels between Lord Hanuman and the Bajrang Dal and demanded an apology from him.

Talking to reporters, Congress spokesman Pawan Khera termed it “shameful” that PM Modi had equated Lord Hanuman with the Bajrang Dal, thus insulting the deity’s millions of devotees.

BJP looted Rs 1.5 lakh crore from Karnataka, claims Priyanka Gandhi

Karnataka elections: Congress promoting abuse culture, punish by voting for BJP chanting Jai Bajrang Bali, says PM Modi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of looting Rs 1.5 lakh crore from poll-bound Karnataka in the last three and a half years.

Addressing a public meeting at Indi in Karnataka’s Vijaypura, the Congress General Secretary alleged that the BJP looted Rs 1.5 lakh crore from the state in the last last three and a half years, adding that with that sum of money one could’ve built 100 AIIMS hospitals, 30,000 smart classrooms and houses for 30 lakh poor people.

Gandhi said the BJP has no relevant issues to talk about in front of people so they conjure up a new issue everday which has no bearing on the state’s development.

On Tuesday, Priyanka Gandhi had urged the people of Karnataka to vote for the Congress while accusing the BJP of “stealing democracy.”

Addressing a poll rally on Tuesday, Gandhi said: “Addressing a public rally in poll-bound Karnataka, Priyanka Gandhi said, “Nowadays, there are various types of thieves in the country, some steal from houses…now, some thieves ‘who steal the governments’ have also come, they are stealing the democracy…stop them.”

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Last week, the Congress, which seeks to oust the BJP from power in Karnataka, had announced that the Communist Party of India (CPI) will, without any pre-conditions, back the Congress on 215 seats in this month’s Assembly elections.

Addressing a presser, senior party leader Randeep Surjewala said the Congress reached out to the CPI— who recently announced their support for the grand old party in the May 10 polls— and it was agreed that the entire CPI cadre will “whole-heartedly without any pre-condition or expectation” support the Congress candidates in their battle to oust the ruling BJP from power.

Surjewala said that both parties have agreed that there will be a “friendly contest” on seven seats where the CPI has fielded its candidates but will completely back the Congress on the remaining 215 seats.

Karnataka goes to polls on May 10 and results for the 224-member Assembly will be announced on May 13.

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