NEW DELHI: The Janata Dal (United) on Friday cornered the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the ongoing controversy surrounding the ‘self-defence’ camp organised by the Bajrang Dal, saying the ruling party at the Centre is following the principle of creating communal tension and dividing secular forces to gain electoral benefits.
JD (U) leader Ali Anwar, who was responding to the ‘self-defence’ camp now organised in Uttar Pradesh’s Nodia city, said the Bajrang Dal and the other outfits of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) by doing this are openly promoting violence.
“Perhaps, they think that the only way to their victory is creating disturbance in the society. Had it not been for Muzaffarnagar riots then they wouldn’t have seen such victory in Uttar Pradesh as well. Likewise during the recent Assam elections, they managed to divide secular forces of the region,” Anwar told ANI.
“Basically they are following two strategies right now either to create secular division among any region or get things done by spewing venom,” he added.
Bajrang Dal leader Mahesh Sharma, who was on Tuesday arrested in connection with the ‘self defence’ camp organised in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya city, was yesterday sent to 14-day judicial custody.
The Faizabad CJM court passed this order after Sharma was charged with hurting religious sentiments of the Muslim community and spreading communal hatred under Section 153 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Earlier on May 14, a 'self-defence' camp was organised at Karsevakpuram, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) workshop, in Ayodhya.
In the video that went viral on Monday, volunteers wearing skull caps were reportedly seen brandishing firearm, swords and lathis.
In the annual self-defence camp, the Bajrang Dal cadres are trained to use rifles, swords and sticks so that they can 'protect the Hindus'.
The cadres were in the video seen killing men dressed as Muslims during the mock drill.
The Bajrang Dal had planned to organise similar camps in Sultanpur, Gorakhpur, Pilibhit, Noida and Fatehpur cities in the state till June 5.