The Congress party has demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for hurting religious sentiments by equating Lord Hanuman with the Bajrang Dal. The demand came after PM Modi criticized the Congress for promising to ban the Bajrang Dal in its Karnataka election manifesto, calling it an attempt to lock up those who worship Lord Hanuman.
The Congress party’s spokesperson, Pawan Khera, called the prime minister’s statement an insult to the crores of devotees of Lord Hanuman and said that he should apologize to the country for hurting their religious sentiments. Khera also accused the prime minister of insulting their faith in Lord Hanuman and said that no one had given him the right to insult Bajrang Bali.
The Congress party’s election manifesto for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls promises to take firm and decisive action against individuals and organizations such as the Bajrang Dal and the Popular Front of India (PFI) “spreading hatred” among communities on the grounds of caste and religion. The action will include a “ban” against such organizations, the party promised.
The BJP has accused the Congress of insulting Lord Hanuman by promising to ban the Bajrang Dal. However, the Congress has clarified that it is not against any particular religion or community but is committed to promoting social harmony and communal peace.
The controversy over the Bajrang Dal and Lord Hanuman is not new. The Bajrang Dal is a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization that is often accused of spreading communal hatred and violence against minorities. Lord Hanuman, on the other hand, is a revered Hindu deity and a symbol of strength and devotion.
The Congress party’s promise to ban the Bajrang Dal is in line with its commitment to promoting social harmony and communal peace. However, the party’s critics see it as an attempt to appease minority voters and to paint the Bajrang Dal as a symbol of communal hatred.
In any case, the controversy over Lord Hanuman and the Bajrang Dal highlights the deep divide between India’s secular and religious forces. While the Congress party is committed to promoting social harmony and communal peace, the BJP and its allies see themselves as defenders of Hindu culture and tradition. As long as this divide exists, controversies like this one are likely to continue.