Karnataka: Congress Manifesto Draws BJP Ire As Senior Leader Burns Copy For Bajrang Dal Ban Proposal

K S Eshwarappa, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Karnataka, burnt a copy of the Congress' election manifesto on Thursday (4 May) and attacked the party for its proposal to ban Bajrang Dal if it came to power in Karnataka.

The former deputy chief minister called Bajrang Dal a patriotic organisation and criticised Congress for proposing to ban it.

"How dare they (Congress) have courage to talk about banning Bajrang Dal," he asked.

In its election manifesto for the upcoming Karnataka assembly election on 10 May, the Congress pledged to take a strong stance against hate-mongering based on caste and religion.

The party said it respects the law and Constitution, and no organisations like the Bajrang Dal or Popular Front of India (PFI), which incite hatred or enmity among communities, should be allowed to violate them.

"We will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on such organisations," the Congress said.

Eshwarappa lashed out at the Congress, calling its manifesto a "manifesto of Muslim League," referring to the political party led for the major part by the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Further, in an accusation of spreading hatred among communities, the former state BJP chief alleged that both D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah claimed to hold the support of the entire Vokkaliga community and backward classes, respectively, for their candidature of becoming chief minister.

"We should arrest Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah first. Action should be taken against them," Eshwarappa said.