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Journalism of Courage
Samajwadi Party SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav demanded a ban on Bajrang Dal on the lines of Students Islamic Movement of India SIMI on Tuesday.
8220;If an organisation like SIMI can be banned for terror activities, why not Bajrang Dal, which was involved in incidents of violence against Christians in Orissa and Karnataka? Whenever SIMI8217;s name is mentioned, there is a hue and cry, then why not against Bajrang Dal?8221; Yadav said while addressing mediapersons.
Asked if the SP was still opposed to a ban on SIMI, Yadav said: 8220;If the charges against SIMI are proved correct, it should be banned. During my regime, no terror incidents were linked to the SIMI. This fact was conveyed to the tribunal.8221;
Yadav also rubbised charges levelled by Chief Minister Mayawati that terrorism had flourished in the state during the SP regime.
Asked about Azamgarh district having emerged as a 8220;nursery8221; of terrorism, Yadav said: 8220;A detailed probe will prove this suggestion wrong. There may be a handful of persons who were involved in terror activities but it is wrong to generalise.8221;
The SP chief further said though the state was reeling under floods and power crisis, the farmers were being dispossessed of their land for projects like the Ganga Expressway. 8220;The state machinery was indulging in extortion to fill the coffers of the BSP for the next Lok Sabha election,8221; he said.
Describing Mayawati as the most insensitive chief minister, Yadav said the inadequate flood relief operations in the state were yet another example of Bahujan Samaj Party8217;s apathy towards the people of the state.
