Karnataka Elections: Congress Equates Banned Islamist Extremist Outfit Popular Front With Bajrang Dal, Promises Action

The Congress on Tuesday (2 May) released its manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly elections scheduled to be held on 10 May.

In its manifesto, Congress has equated banned islamist extremist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) with Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the RSS-affiliated Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and stated that it will ban such organisations that promote "enmity or hatred whether among majority or minority communities".

The Congress Party's manifesto, titled 'Sarva Janangada Shanthiya Thota' (peaceful garden of all communities), pledges to "take firm and decisive action" against individuals and organisations that foster communal hatred based on caste or religion.

"We believe that law and Constitution is sacrosanct and can not be violated by individuals and Organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities," the manifesto said, reports NDTV.

The manifesto reportedly added that if the party is voted to power in the state, it will take decisive action as law, including imposing a ban on them.

The party also vowed to repeal "all unjust laws and other anti-people laws" passed by the BJP government in the state within a year of coming to power.

The Congress also reiterated its five guarantees in the manifesto.

These guarantees include Gruha Jyothi, which promises 200 units of free electricity to every household; Gruha Lakshmi, which pledges Rs 2,000 per month to women who are heads of households; Anna Bhagya, which promises 10 kg of food grains of their choice to each person in a BPL family; Yuva Nidhi, which provides Rs 3,000 per month for two years to unemployed graduates, and a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders.

Finally, Shakti offers free travel to all women in regular KSRTC/BMTC buses throughout the state.

As a "sixth guarantee", Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge said the promises will be implemented in the first cabinet meeting on the first day of government formation.

Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, KPCC President D K Shivakumar and Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera were among those present during the manifesto release event.

Earlier, in April, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said each vote to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will protect the State from PFI.

In September last year, the PFI was banned by the Centre under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The Union Home Ministry had said that PFI and its affiliates have been indulging in unlawful activities "prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country", and that they have the potential to disturb public peace and communal harmony.