Karnataka Polls: Bajrang Dal calls for chanting of Hanuman Chalisa to protest Congress poll promise to ban the organisation

The organisation, in a media statement, said the Hindu religion was facing a big crisis and resisting the Congress moves by staying united was the only option left now, the organisation said, and urged Hindus to keep their differences aside and join hands to protect the dharma.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shouted “Jai Bajrang Bali’ five times at the BJP campaign rallies at Ankola in Uttara Kannada district and at Mulki in Dakshina Kannada district, both coastal areas. He urged voters to punish the Congress by casting their vote for the BJP by pressing the “Lotus” symbol on May 10.

Protests erupted in different parts of the country on Tuesday after the Congress released its manifesto, in which it said the party was committed to take firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations including PFI and Bajrang Dal that spread hatred amongst communities on grounds of caste or religion.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar defended the party’s promise in the manifesto and said they were also the devotees of Lord Hanuman and he chanted Hanuman Chalisa every day. “We are also devotees of Lord Hanuman. We have only said peace should prevail and communal harmony should not be disturbed,” he said, and wondered if there was any link between Bajrang Dal and the Lord.

Shivakumar accused the organisation of indulging in moral policing, and urged the PM to come up with details of the contributions made by the double-engine government to Karnataka and the number of jobs created instead of criticising the Congress.The manifesto, released by AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge, said: “We believe that law and Constitution is sacrosanct and cannot be violated by individuals and organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities. We will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on any such organisations.”