Baghel meddles in Bajrang Dal row, says may consider ban if needed

Baghel accused Bajrang Dal of "indulging in hooliganism in the name of Bajrang Bali" and said his government has restricted the outfit from doing something untoward in Chhattisgarh so far.

Raipur: The call for a ban on Bajrang Dal which has set off a slugfest between the BJP and Congress has found its echo in Chhattisgarh as well with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel saying his government may consider a ban on the saffron outfit if needed though he did not give a clear answer about his stand on the move that has found its way in the party's manifesto for the upcoming Karnataka elections.

Baghel, who meddled in the controversy, also accused Bajrang Dal of indulging in hooliganism "in the name of Bajrang Bali" adding his government has restricted the outfit from doing anything untoward in Chhattisgarh so far.

Targeting PM Modi for his remarks on Kabir, Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gorakhnath, Baghel said the prime minister is good at spinning stories according to his whims. "He said they used to sit together and discuss the upliftment of the society. Which century does Guru Nanak Dev, Kabirdas ji and Guru Gorakhnath ji belong to? Everyone's time was different," the CM said.

He added, "There is a call for banning Bajrang Dal, not Bajrang Bali. Bajrang Bali Hanuman is our god. You are creating confusion in his name by adding his name. This is not fair." On PM Modi's allegation of locking Lord Ram and Bajrang Bali, CM Baghel said Rajiv Gandhi had done the work of opening the lock in Ayodhya's Ram temple. Modi lies so much that people are not taking his words seriously. In this case also he lied. There has been talk of banning Bajrang Dal because it is doing hooliganism, Baghel said.

Justifying the logic for banning Bajrang Dal, Baghel said, "If a crime is committed, there is a process to punish the culprit. There is also a system put in place in the constitution. There is judicial system. Being a member of the party, you can't take take the law in your hand."

He also targeted Modi for his 'silence' on Adani. "Why did Adani's stock fall so much, PM is silent on Hindenburg report, not saying a word?" Baghel questioned.