GANDHINAGAR, Aug 5: For the first time since the recent sudden spurt in mob attacks on Muslims and Christians in the State, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel today came out openly against VHP and Bajrang Dal activities and asserted that the government would take action against the Sangh Parivar activists if found involved in violent attacks.``I endorse whatever the Director General of Police had said (at the Tuesday news conference in Ahmedabad) about the activities of VHP and Bajrang Dal workers'', Patel told mediapersons at the weekly Cabinet Press briefing.
DGP C P Singh had blamed the aggression of VHP and Bajrang Dal activists leading to violent incidents in parts of the State. Singh had also said that ``VHP and Bajrang Dal workers are taking the law into their own hands, which could disturb the peace of the State''.
Patel's endorsement is likely to invite sharp reactions from Sangh Parivar which claims its support in the last elections had returned the BJP to power under Keshubhai Patel as the Chief Minister.
To a query, Patel warned that the Government would not hesitate to initiate action against any person reacting violently to stray incidents of inter-caste marriages or forced conversions.
In the same breath, he warned that the Government would firmly deal with those involved in such marriages and conversions by force or temptation.
Asked if he subscribed to the DGP's views that the crime graph had gone up, Patel quipped: ``Of late, the crime rate has been on the rise in the entire country and the same phenomenon is being witnessed in Gujarat, too''. He said the Government would soon chalk out measures to check it.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
