UPA, NDA clash at meet on integration

NEW DELHI: The political faultlines over terrorism and communal violence were in sharp focus at the meeting of the National Integration Council on Monday, with the NDA clashing with UPA and activists over special laws and calls for a ban on saffron outfits like the Bajrang Dal. The deliberations saw BJP chief ministers charging UPA with lacking the will to tackle terrorism while UPA ministers — RJD chief Lalu Prasad and LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan — circulated statements in support of a ban on Bajrang Dal though they did not speak at the meeting. Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh was dismissive of national security adviser M K Narayanan's statement that a ban on Bajrang Dal was not sustainable, noting that it was merely an official's view. He spoke on the sense of insecurity amongst Muslims who were convinced that the Batla... [read full story]