The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Tuesday slammed the Congress for promising to ban the Bajrang Dal in Karnataka if voted to power in the state, saying by doing so, the party has defamed a "nationalist" organisation.

Releasing its manifesto for the May 10 Karnataka assembly elections on Tuesday in Bengaluru, the Congress said it is committed to take firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations such as the Bajrang Dal and the Popular Front of India (PFI), including banning them, for "spreading hatred" amongst communities on grounds of caste and religion.