Date:14/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/14/stories/2008101454270600.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Guntur

Venkaiah dares Centre to ban Bajrang Dal

Staff Reporter

GUNTUR: Bharatiya Janata Party senior leader M. Venkaiah Naidu has dared the Centre to ban Bajrang Dal and warned that it would face dire consequences if it goes ahead with its plans to invoke President’s rule in Orissa under article 355.

Replying to queries about the continuing communal violence in parts of Orissa here on Monday, he said that while the BJP was against resorting to violence against any community, it would press for adoption of a Uniform Civil Code to maintain law and order in the country. Mr. Naidu was here to take part in the 85th birthday celebrations of freedom fighter K. Sadasiva Rao being held here.

Trying to put things in a historical perspective, he said that since independence various political parties have been appeasing the minorities and as a result fundamentalists have started destabilising the nation. Referring to the incidents of communal violence at Bhainsa in Adilabad district, he said that Home Minister K. Jana Reddy lacked the nerve to restrain MIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi .