Union Home Minister of India Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde has done it again. During the recently held Chintan Shivir of the Congress party at Jaipur, he accused the BJP and RSS of conducting terror training camps and promoting “Hindu terrorism”.
Is this just a lame stunt to please the political bosses or sign of the foot in the mouth syndrome which this Congress leader is used to or is this the election strategy for 2014? Having failed to tackle corruption, law and order, spiralling inflation and a series of scams involving billions of dollars, is this attempt to divert from the real issues?
The following is the excerpt of what he said as reported by news.outlookindia.com
“One on hand we are trying to bring peace in this country. We are also taking steps against injustice to minorities as also against infiltration. But, in the midst of all this, we have got an investigation report that be it the RSS or BJP, their training camps are promoting Hindu terrorism. We are keeping a strict vigil on all this,” Mr Shinde said at the AICC session here. He said bombs were planted in Samjhauta express, Mecca Masjid and also a blast was carried out in Malegaon. In all these incidents, the involvement of right-wing extremist groups is suspected. “We will have to think about it seriously and will have to remain alert,” he said.
Assuming that the Home Minister’s statement on Hindu Terrorism is a fact and correct, isn’t this one of the most challenging issues India faces today? And exactly what is your plan of action to tackle it as the Home Minister of India?
Shinde later clarified, “This is saffron terrorism that I have talked about. It is the same thing and nothing new. It has come in the media several times.”
Dear Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde, can you give us a statement as the Home Minister of India instead of quoting newspapers? How long have you been sitting on this information? What have you done to curb this new menace of Hindu Terrorism or Saffron terrorism?
If you are so sure the BJP & RSS run the terror camps, what stops you from arresting them? Why don’t you initiate trials and hang them on a fast track basis like you claimed to have done with Ajmal Kasab? Are these camps and the people responsible based in Pakistan? What stops you from at least putting a ban on RSS and BJP?
Since neither you nor your party has acted so far there is only one logical reason to these highly irresponsible acts by you. This is just another attempt by politicians in India to polarize people along religious and caste lines and sow seeds of discord so that they can have a rich harvest of votes by 2014!
The following was the reaction from the BJP and other opposition parties
BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters in Delhi, “Their (Congress’) destructive mindset is reflected in the statement of the Home Minister. The statement he has given at the Chintan Shivir is very objectionable. It’s not only unacceptable but also dangerous.”
“We feel ashamed that he (Shinde) belongs to Maharashtra,” said Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut in Mumbai. If the Home Minister has any evidence to back his remarks, he should show it, Raut said.
The BJP spokesperson also said that Shinde’s statement has given “oxygen” to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. “Sometimes I feel that Congress has become a group of cowards (kayaron ki jamaat). I am saying because terror strikes are repeatedly happening in the country, terrorists are mushrooming here”.
The country seeks some answers from the Home Minister and Government of India.