After dilly-dallying for months, the Rajasthan government on Tuesday banned the distribution of trishuls (tridents) in the state, but a defiant Vishwa Hindu Parishad said it would not stop its trishul-deeksha (initiation) programmes.

The government issued a notification under the Arms Act without actually naming the trishul, considered the weapon of Lord Shiva. The notification simply said 'distribution, keeping, and carrying of sharp, pointed and two- or multi-bladed weapons' was banned.

It, however, clarified that the order would not affect the use of trishuls in religious places and functions.

Reacting sharply, a VHP spokesman termed the notification a "confrontation with the religious faith of Hindus by the Congress government" and dared it to take action, saying its programmes of distributing tridents to its workers and Bajrang Dal activists would continue.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot told reporters in Bhilwara district, where the VHP is active in organising the deeksha functions, that his government considers the trident a weapon distributed to create communal disharmony.

The government had announced in the recently concluded budget session of the state assembly that it would take concrete steps soon to curb the distribution of tridents.

The VHP, however, insisted that there was no instance of the trishul being used as a weapon at any time anywhere in the state.

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What do you think about the story? Read what others have to say: Number of User Comments: 7 Sub: Congress has become completely anti-hindu Nobody is killing using the Trishuls...why ban? Just because you can do anything with the sentiments of hindus and get away with it? Yatras are ... Posted by Agg Sub: Rajastan bans thrishul This is not a wise move. By this government is helping VHP. What can you do with thrishuls when all kinds of weapons are freely ... Posted by aravind Sub: What does the ban achieve? The ban achieves nothing. If they want to ban the weapons then at the same time they should ban the swords carried by Sikh in ... Posted by rkagnost Sub: tridants Dear Sir, The RSS is a great blot on our country.It's a minace.It's a cancerous growth,will never cease to exist unless we uproot these Manuvaadis ... Posted by pradeepshinde Sub: Freedom VHP and Bajrang Dal activists SHOULD BE BANNED.These two groups are the meain reason why INDIA cannot move ahead and concentrate on important issues related ... Posted by Vikas