According to recent news reports, the Congress party in the Indian state of Karnataka has promised in its election manifesto to ban the Bajrang Dal, on the lines of the Popular Front of India. The party has accused the Bajrang Dal of engaging in violence against religious minorities and disrupting social harmony. The Bajrang Dal is the youth wing of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization in India.
We said organisations like PFI, Bajrang Dal disrupt peace in society. I was a law minister in Karnataka, state government can’t do it, and even Bajrang Dal can’t be banned by the state government,” Veerappa Moily said. The Congress leader added that DK Shivakumar will give clarification about the Congress proposal to “ban” Bajrang Dal in its election manifesto.
What exactly does Bajrang Dal do?
The Bajrang Dal was formed in 1984 to infuse young blood into the activities of the Vishva Hindu Parishad. It has been accused by some of engaging in violence against religious minorities, including Muslims and Christians. The organization is named after the Hindu god Hanuman, who is also called Bajrangbali or “the strong-armed one.” The Bajrang Dal has been the subject of controversy in recent years over allegations of violence and intimidation against religious minorities, and some have called for it to be banned.
Each department is headed by six to seven people, including the Chalisa head, the Akhara head, the security head and the training head. The Chalisa head has to see that Hanuman Chalisa is recited on the Sanskar day, the Akhara head looks after the exercise, the security head if Bajrang Dal is going to conduct agitation etc., informs the state and central department about it.
Training Head is responsible for the year-round training of workers. Bajrang Dal currently claims that their party has around 2.7 lakh members. According to Bajrang Dal, there are about 2,500 arenas operating across the country.
Bajrang Dal has always been opposed to Valentine’s Day.
According to the Bajrang Dal, Valentine’s Day is deemed as a celebration of western culture that is not compatible with traditional Indian culture. The organization also believes that the holiday promotes indecency and immoral behavior, leading to the corruption of Indian society.
As a result, the Bajrang Dal has been known to oppose Valentine’s Day celebrations and has been accused of intimidating couples and staging protests across India. However, some argue that the organization’s tactics to suppress the holiday may be an infringement on individual freedoms and a violation of human rights.
When was Bajrang Dal banned before?
Bajrang Dal has been banned before in India. The group has been accused of being involved in religious violence and riots in several instances. In December 1992, the Indian government banned three groups – Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bajrang Dal, and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) – following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya , which triggered communal violence across India. This ban was lifted two weeks later. Since then, there have been calls to ban the Bajrang Dal several times, but it has not been banned again.