This orgaization is being held responsible for the killings of Christians in Orissa in recent days. They have also demanded imposition of President rule in Orissa.

In a letter to Mr Singh, NCP leader Sharad Pawar has demanded militant outfits like Bajrang Dal should immediately be banned so as to provide security and relief to the Christian community in the country that is currently living under a fearful atmosphere.

The RJD chief and Railway Minister Lalu Yadav had also raised the issue in the last meeting of the Union Cabinet and demanded immediate action.

Mr Singh, said a top government source, informed the Cabinet that the government is keeping a close watch on the situation and has also sought a report from the state government. He reportedly told his allies that the government would not hesitate to take strong measures like imposition of President rule in the state if the situation worsens further.

A senior government functionary said the government is preparing the ground for action against fundamentalist Hindu organizations, which have been blamed for the recent spate of attacks against minorities across the country.

The allies are intensifying calls for a ban on the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Premier Singh is likely to call a special meeting of the Cabinet to discuss the issue later this week.

“If Muslims are being targeted as terrorists, why no action is taken against Hindu groups like Sanatan Prabhat and Bajrang Dal,” said Sharad Pawar, President of the Nationalist Congress Party, a key ally of the ruling coalition.

In a move to ascertain the views of the different political parties over the rising incidents of killing of people and priests of Christian community, Prime Minister Singh has called a meeting of the National Integrity Council on October 13. The meeting is aimed at evolving a consensus on the government action against Orissa government and Bajrang Dal.

The Congress sources said the government wants to take political parties into confidence before taking action against the Hindu outfit and the state government keeping in view the possible political implications of its action ahead of the assembly elections in six states, which would be followed by general elections next year.

Congress sources said the party high command has sought the opinion from party units in poll-bound states like Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan as to what would be political implication if President rule is promulgated in Orissa and Bajrang Dal is banned. The party president of these states have been asked to submit their reports within a week, which would be discussed first within the party and later within the government.(EON)