Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: September 26, 2002
Deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal,
who belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has categorically
stated that the Maharashtra government has no plan to ban the Vishwa Hindu
Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal-(BD). Minister of state for home Kripashanker
Singh of the Congress had recently claimed that the government was planning
to ban these bodies. He had even stated that the government would approach
the Centre with such a request since these organisations were creating
communal hatred.
Sources in Mantralaya said Mr Singh
should not have spoken out of turn and that too on a sensitive issue. By
refuting Mr Singh's statement, Mr Bhujbal has embarrassed him. In the past
too, lack of coordination between the two ministers handling the home portfolio
was evident. While Mr Bhujbal favoured a ban on the Students' Islamic Movement
of India, Mr Singh had opposed such a step. Finally, the Centre agreed
with Mr Bhujbal and clamped a ban on the Islamic organisation.
On Wednesday, the Shiv Sena and
the Sangh Parivar dared Mr Singh to ban the VHP and the Bajrang Dal.
Former chief minister Narayan Rane
of the Sena accused Mr Singh of being "highly irresponsible". "A member
of the government should think twice before opening mouth on such a sensitive
matter," he observed. "Was it Mr Singh's personal view or was he stating
the view of the government," Mr Rane asked.
BJP vice president and former deputy
chief minister Gopinath Munde lamented that while anti- national organisations
like the ISI, SIMI and the underworld had a free run in the state, "patriotic
organisations" were threatened with a ban by the Democratic Front (DF)
government in Maharashtra.
Bajrang Dal's regional convener
Shankar Gaikar said that at least 60 communal riots had taken place in
Maharashtra during the tenure of the DF government. The persons behind
these riots have never been arrested by the police force led by Mr Singh,
he observed.
