The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Ban on Bajrang Dal should be based on evidence’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 11, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Ban on Bajrang Dal should be based on evidence’

Special Correspondent

No organisation is above the law: Mumtaz Ali Khan

Communal harmony training centre at Hukkeri planned
Encroached Wakf properties to be recovered

BANGALORE: Minister for Wakf and Minority Welfare Mumtaz Ali Khan has said that if the Centre decides to ban the Bajrang Dal, the decision should be based on evidence of the organisation’s involvement in instigating communal violence and unlawful activities and not on the recommendations of religious organisations.

He told presspersons here on Friday that no organisation was above the law. If the Centre had sufficient evidence of the involvement of Bajrang Dal activists in communal violence, then it should take steps to ban the Hindutva outfit.

The Bajrang Dal, which has been accused of masterminding anti-Christian violence in Karnataka, Orissa and other States, has dared the Government to ban it, warning that the authorities will face the consequences if it is outlawed.

Dr. Khan said no organisation should be allowed to instigate violence against a particular community. The Centre should take stern action against all those organisations guilty of disturbing the peace and communal harmony. However, it was not possible to totally prevent conversions in the country, he said.

For promoting peace among various communities, he said his Ministry proposed to set up a communal harmony training centre at Hukkeri in Belgaum district. He was also in favour of inclusion of the basic tenets of all major religions in primary school textbooks.

Referring to attacks on prayer halls and churches in the State, the Minister took exception to comments made against the State Government by the National Minorities Commission and alleged that the commission had acted in a biased manner and as an agent of the Centre. He would attend the National Integration Council meeting on October 13 in New Delhi and raise issues pertaining to the minorities, Dr. Khan said.

Wakf properties

Asked about encroachment of Wakf properties, he said a committee had been constituted to recommend steps to recover such properties. A sum of Rs. 100 crore would be spent on developing Wakf properties in the State, he said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka