Hitesh Bhardwaj, the president of an outfit referred to as “Bajrang Dal Hindustan” had filed the defamation case.

New Delhi:

A Punjab court docket right this moment summoned Congress occasion chief Mallikarjun Kharge in a Rs 100 core defamation associated to the occasion equating the banned Islamic outfit Standard Entrance of India (PFI) with Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the Sangh-affiliated Vishwa Hindu Parishad, in its Karnataka Meeting election manifesto. 

The Sangrur district court docket summoned the Congress President after a criticism from Hitesh Bhardwaj, the president of an outfit referred to as “Bajrang Dal Hindustan.”

Through the recently-concluded Karnataka meeting elections, the Congress in its manifesto in contrast Bajrang Dal with “anti-national organisations like SIMI and Al-Qaeda”, the petitioner mentioned.

Naming the Bajrang Dal, the Congress in its manifesto promised to ban organisations that promote “enmity or hatred, whether or not amongst majority or minority communities”.

“The Congress Occasion is dedicated to take agency and decisive motion towards people and organisations spreading hatred amongst communities on grounds of caste or faith. We imagine that legislation and Structure is sacrosanct and cannot be violated by people and Organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others selling enmity or hatred, whether or not amongst majority or minority communities,” the Congress manifesto, referred to as ‘Sarva Janangada Shanthiya Thota’ (peaceable backyard of all communities), learn, including that the occasion, if voted to energy within the state, will take ‘decisive motion’ as per legislation, together with imposing a ban on them.

Outgoing Karnataka minister CN Ashwathnarayan, who retained his seat within the Malleshwaram constituency, on consequence day challenged the Congress to ban the Bajrang Dal, which is commonly linked with vigilantism, violence and ethical policing.

“How dare they discuss banning Bajrang Dal. Allow them to strive. We are going to present what we will do,” he mentioned.

The Congress, nevertheless, was compelled to make clear its promise after large backlash from BJP leaders, together with public taunts by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at election rallies. The Congress has determined “to lock up” Bajrang Bali devotees, mentioned PM Modi, and urged voters to chant ‘Jai Bajrangbali’ and punish those that “abuse tradition”. The grand outdated occasion, which later registered a thumping victory in Karnataka, successful 135 of the full 224 Meeting seats, had mentioned it had “no proposal to ban the Bajrang Dal” as a result of banning an organisation prefer it got here below the central authorities.

However the occasion additionally hit again on the Prime Minister, accusing him of “hurting spiritual sentiments” of devotees by equating Lord Hanuman with the Bajrang Dal, and demanded an apology from him.

Quickly after it was clear that Congress was headed for a snug win, occasion employees taunted the BJP and the correct wing by turning up at occasion officers dressed as Bajrangbali Hanuman.

“Bajrangbali BJP ke nahi Congress ke sath hain… Bajrang Bali ne BJP par nice lagaya hai (Lord Bajrangbali is with the Congress. He has levied a nice on the BJP,” mentioned one of many employees, strolling round in a Hanuman costume.