Bajrang Dal 'works for country'; Congress offered Biryani to terrorists: BJP

BJP's national general secretary Tarun Chugh while speaking to ETV Bharat's Anamika Ratna said the party (Congress) that "offered Biryani to terrorists" is talking about banning Bajrang Dal. He cited the example of Jammu and Kashmir separatist leader Yasin Malik meeting the then Prime Minister. Malik was accorded a warm welcome while holding talks with then Prime Minister," Chugh told ETV Bharat.

New Delhi: Lambasting the Congress' Karnataka election manifesto promise to impose a ban on right-wing organisation Bajrang Dal if the party is voted to power in the southern state, BJP's national general secretary Tarun Chugh Wednesday said the party "nurtured terrorists" and "offered Biryani" to them.

"Those (Congress party) who offered Biryani to terrorists are talking about banning Bajrang Dal. Those who provided red carpet welcome to terrorists are vociferous about banning Bajrang Dal. Jammu and Kashmir separatist leader Yasin Malik used to meet the then Prime Minister. Malik was accorded a warm welcome while holding talks with then Prime Minister," Chugh told ETV Bharat. In 2006, Malik met the then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"The Congress party was providing vehicle or aircraft so as to facilitate Yasin Malik's meeting with the then Prime Minister. Those who were involved in dividing the country were nurtured by the Congress party," he said, adding, "The organization (Bajrang Dal) has been working for the betterment of the country". The Congress, he said, is talking about locking up such people or outfits who chant Jai Bajrang Bali.

"The people of Karnataka will give a befitting reply to Congress party for threatening to take action against Bajrang Dal in the upcoming assembly polls in the state," Chugh added.

Meanwhile, amid strong protest from the Sangh Parivar against the Congress manifesto mentioning a ban on Bajrang Dal, senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Veerappa Moily on Wednesday said there was no suggestion before the party to ban Bajrang Dal if elected to power.
Addressing reporters in Udupi, he said the Congress had mentioned action against organisations like the Bajrang Dal in the manifesto in the backdrop of the Supreme Court's stringent observations against hate politics.