Congress accused of defaming Hindu religion, BJP demands apology
New Delhi, April 16: The BJP on Monday accused the Congress of "defaming" the Hindu religion by coining the term "saffron terror" and demanded apologies from Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Sambit Patra made the demand after a Special NIA court acquitted all five accused in the Mecca Masjid Bomb blast case earlier in the day.
"Today after the verdict, the Congress' face has been exposed as never before," Patra told the media.
Slamming the Congress, the BJP leader said: "A former official R.V.S. Mani told the media today that Home Minister (P. Chidambaram) was involved in changing the files.
"To hide the truth, to change the truth and to change whatever was already submitted in the court through affidavit, this is what Chidambaram and others in the Congress dispensation were doing just in order to prove saffron terror.
"Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi must apologise to the nation."
The BJP leader said that those who follow Indian politics are remembering the 2013 Congress's Jaipur convention where then party President Sonia Gandhi, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi were sitting on the dias.
"Then Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in his address to the party workers read out the term saffron terror. By doing this he defamed the centuries-old Hindu religion," he alleged, adding that all the senior party leaders remained silent.
Patra said "Hindu terror" was first used by Chidambaram in 2010.
He slammed the Congress for indulging in appeasement politics for years.
He also attacked the Congress leaders for maintaining "double standards" on the court verdict.
Trading insults at the Congress President, Patra asked: "Rahulji, isn't it correct that you met US ambassador and told him that 'We don't fear the SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India) but we do fear the Hindus'?"
"Didn't you tell him that the SIMI was not involved in terror activities but the Hindus were?"
He also said that all Congress leaders take lessons from Rahul Gandhi.
"Or had these leaders made statements without consulting you?" he asked.
Hitting out at Shinde, Patra said, "At the height of the appeasement politics, in 2013, Shinde sent notices to all the Chief Ministers saying to not arrest any innocent Muslim youth."
Due to its appeasement politics, the Congress was deserted in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Patra added.
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Punishment for those disrupting assembly proceedings, warns Speaker UT Khader
Belagavi: Speaker U.T. Khader on Friday warned that members who disrupt Assembly proceedings by talking in their seats during debates will be made to sit in the House for an entire day as a disciplinary measure.
The warning came after the Question Hour, when Deputy Leader of the Opposition Arvind Bellad was permitted to initiate a discussion on the development of North Karnataka.
At this point, expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal objected, stating that he had been seeking a debate for the past three days but had not been given an opportunity.
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Responding to the objection, Speaker Khader said Bellad had already been granted permission and assured Yatnal that he would be allowed to speak at the next opportunity. He noted that even as a serious discussion was underway, several MLAs were speaking among themselves with their microphones on, disrupting the proceedings.
Expressing displeasure over the conduct of members, Khader likened the situation to football, where players receive red, yellow, or white cards for violations. Similarly, he said, the Assembly issues warning cards to members who disturb the House. If they fail to correct themselves despite repeated warnings, they would be required to remain seated in the Assembly hall for a full day as punishment, he stated.
