"Ban RSS, Bajrang Dal if you can:" Bommai dares Congress govt

Basavaraja Bommai said that the power of banning an organisation rests with the central government. States cannot impose any such ban, he said.

Bengaluru:Former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraja Bommai challenged chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar to ban the RSS and the Bajrang Dal, saying the state government does not have any such power. Congress leaders make such statements only for appeasement, Bommai said adding that earlier when leaders attempted to ban the RSS, voters had sent them home.

Bommai's remarks have come in the wake of minister Priyank Kharge claiming that the Congress-led Karnataka government is considering to impose a ban on RSS and Bajrang Dal if they were found posing threat to peace and order. Speaking at a press conference at RT Nagar residence, Bommai said that the new government has been formed and the newly appointed ministers have already started doing politics of hatred and revenge. Politics of revenge and hatred is more important to them than development, he alleged.

Responding to the proposed ban on Bajrang Dal, Bommai said that states do not have the authority to ban any association as it is the central government that imposes such ban. Despite this, the Congress leaders are speaking about banning these organisations as part of their appeasement politics, he added. "We take it as a challenge and I will ask Siddaramaiah about his opinion. Do you agree with your minister? It should be made clear to the people of the state how you will go ahead with the ban. No one can ban Sangh Parivar. Those who wanted to ban have already been sent home. We will take this statement as a challenge and deal with it politically," Bommai said.

Bommai alleged that though the government was run by a single party it seemed as if there was coalition government. "Due to disagreement between the two leaders over the chief minister's post, there was a tug of war that continued till 3 am in the first phase of the cabinet. Now, in the second stage, it seems as if there is a coalition government," he said.

He said that Siddaramaiah should make his stand clear on the issue as the party had mentioned about banning the Bajrang Dal in their manifesto. Also, he sought to know as to what was being done to fulfil the other promises that were made namely providing 200 units of free electricity every month and free bus rides for women. "Why should people wait till the second cabinet? Those who promised free bus travel for all women, why are they now imposing conditions? It's just a trick. We will fight with the people for implementation of the promises", he said.

Reacting to the criticism of the Congress over selection of the leader of the opposition, Bommai said, "Why are they so worried about us? People have elected them so they should first focus on fulfilling their demands. We know who the leader of the opposition is and when he is to be appointed. So don't worry about us."