Guna, Apr 13: Alleging that innocent people were being arrested on the pretext of being Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) member, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh said today that Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal should also be banned like SIMI.

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mr Singh told reporters here that he was the first to recommend ban on SIMI, as it was fannig riots. However, he alleged that state government was nabbing innocent persons in the ongoing drive of nailing down the SIMI associates.

Terming Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal similar to SIMI, he said that these organisations were also involved in spreading riots and he favoured ban on them.

Regarding inflation, he claimed that at present the entire world was facing the price rise and India was in better position in comparison to other developed countries.

''There is no shortage of essential commodities in the country but hoarders and black marketeers raised the prices by hoarding. The state government should raid hoarders to curb artificial inflation,'' Mr Singh added.