Nationwide BJP protests against Shinde's saffron terror remark, demands apology from Sonia, PM

New Delhi/Lucknow/Patna, Jan 24: The Bharatiya Janata Party today held nationwide protests against Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's remark at the AICC that BJP, RSS were organizing saffron terror camps, a remark disowned by the Congress. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, addressing BJP workers at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, lashed out at the Congress and demanded apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Sushma Swaraj also demanded the removal of the Home Minister. "You are linking former RSS men accused for terror with both BJP and RSS. What about Rajasthan minister Mahipal Maderna, who was arrested for murder, Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda, arrested for an air hostess' suicide, and Suresh Kalmadi, accused on CWG corruption? Did we say that the entire Congress is full of rapists and murders?", said Sushma Swaraj. "We are nationalists. For the sake of Bharat Mata, we are ready to lay our lives. Soniaji and Prime Minister should apologize and Shindeji should be dismissed. So long as this is not done, our agitation will continue, said Swaraj. The BJP leader also lashed out at Congress leader Digvijay Singh for mentioning Hafiz Saeed as 'Saeed Saheb' and Osama bin Laden as 'Osamaji'. She said it was Digvijay Singh who went to the homes of terrorists killed in Batla House encounter, in which a Delhi Police inspector was martyred. "They have made India a laughing stock throughout the world, by mentioning saffron terror. Soniaji should apologize", Swaraj said. Newly elected BJP president Rajnath Singh, addressing the protesters, warned that his party would not allow Parliament to function if Shinde does not withdraw his remark. "It's strange, Soniaji and the PM keeping a silence over Shinde's saffron terror remark. "I can understand Manmohanji's silence. He remains silent on any issue for a month or even a year, but what about Soniaji? How can she allow such vote-bank issues in politics? Let Soniaji make her stand clear", said Singh. The BJP chief said, this was not a token protest, but it will be taken to "its logical end".Meanwhile, Congress leaders defended Shinde for his remark saying that the party has already made it clear that terrorism has no colour or religion. Party general secretary Digvijay Singh countered saying that even Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had spoken about terrorism by Hindu Maha Sabha, then what's wrong if Chidambaram and Shinde speak about saffron terror. Digvijay Singh said, Advani should apologise for taking up Sadhvi Pragya Singh's (Malegaon blast accused) case to the PM, Uma Bharati and Rajnath Singh should apologize for going to jail and meeting Sadhvi Pragya Singh. "Our fight relates to ideology. Why are they up in arms against Shindeji? Is it because he is a Dalit Home Minister", asked Singh. Congress spokesperson Renuka Chaudhary described the anti-Shinde protests as a "diversionary tactic" of BJP. She said, the party lacks cohesion after the power struggle over the post of president. "If the Home Minister has said something against the BJP and RSS, it means he has some evidences", said Chaudhary. Minister of state in PMO V Narayanaswamy questioned why BJP was coming in support of Malegan and other blasts accused. "When we condemn Hindu fundamentalists, they always remain silent. why?""We don't see any wrong when the Home Minister mentioned about Hindu terrorists", said Narayanaswamy.