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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Adequate LPG stock in Chhattisgarh, no need to panic, says CM Sai
Raipur (PTI): Amid reports of shortage of commercial LPG cylinder in several parts of the country due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday assured people that they need not worry about the availability of cooking gas in the state.
He asserted that adequate stock of LPG as well as petrol and diesel was available in the state.
Sai said in a statement that authorities have been directed to regularly monitor stock at gas agencies and keep a close watch on the supply chain. Necessary instructions were issued to officials in all districts to ensure a smooth supply of LPG.
The chief minister instructed officials to take strict action if any complaint of black marketing or hoarding of LPG cylinders is received.
Sai urged state residents not to pay attention to rumours and to book cooking gas cylinders as per their actual requirement.
The government was fully alert to ensure the availability of essential commodities to citizens, he emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Hotel and Restaurant Association has issued an advisory to hotels, restaurants, caterers and other food businesses across the state, urging them to maintain calm and avoid panic buying.
In the advisory, Taranjeet Singh Hora, president of the association, asked members to maintain coordination and immediately inform it about any major disruption in LPG supply.
He cautioned businesses against hoarding cylinders, saying such practices could worsen the situation for the entire hospitality sector.
The association advised hotels and restaurants to prioritise essential kitchen operations, core menu items and already committed banquet events.
Use electric cooking equipment wherever possible for emergency and staff kitchens such as induction cooktops, electric hot plates, electric rice cookers and kettles, the advisory stated.
