LeT chief latches on to Shinde’s remark

LeT chief latches on to Shinde’s remark

BJP Goes For His Jugular; Digvijay Supports Him

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lahore/New Delhi: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed latched onto home minister Sushilkumar Shinde’scommentson “saffron terrorism” being fomentedby BJP andRSS training campstoclaim chargeslevelled againstLeTwith regardto26/11werefalse.
    Thecontroversy over Shinde’s remarks atthe Jaipur Congress meeting refused to die down as the Lashkar boss – accused by India of masterminding theterror attackson Mumbai–said “Indian propaganda” against Pakistani organisation stoodexposed.
    According to a PTI report, Saeed said: “India triedtoinvolveusin theMumbai attacksbut after a passage of five years, nothing has been established against us.” He further demanded that Pakistan take steps to declare India a “terrorist state”.
    An angry BJP, already demanding Shinde’s resignation, said his “irresponsible remarks” have caused immense damage to India while the RSS said the home minister was a “darling of terrorists” asLashkar hadcongratulatedhim.
    “Naturally Saeed made use of Shinde’s comments. As home minister, he must realise that he cannot play to the gallery. Shinde has behaved in an absolutely irresponsible manner,” said BJP spokesperson PrakashJavadekar.
    Saeed’s intervention is embarrassing for the government as it has always taken the line that terror has no religion, either Islamic, Hindu or any other. Shinde’s grandstanding seems to have landedthe governmentin a spot ashespecifically spoke of “saffron terrorism” and linked RSS and BJP to blasts in Malegaon, Mecca Masjid and Samjhauta Express.
    Shinde found the support of his party colleague Digvijaya Singh who said the allegations he has been levelling for years have been proved right by the home minister. Parliamentary affairs minister KamalNathsaidtheBJP reactions areintendedtoturnthefocus awayfrom itsinternalbickering.
    BJP and RSS, however, show no intention of letting Shinde get away and on Monday mounted ascathing attackcalling for a nation-wide protest on January 24 and warning to take it up in a big way when Parliament meets for the Budget session. Shindeisleader of theHousein Lok Sabha.
    Asked if BJP will boycott Shinde as they had finance minister P Chidambaram over the 2G spectrum, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasadsaid, “The party has yettoworkoutitsstrategy on this.” While RSS took on Shinde, calling him a “darling of real terrorists” and noting that Lashkar has “congratulated” the home minister for the remark.
    Describing Shinde as a “lightweight” home minister, Prasad demanded an unconditional apology from Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over Shinde's allegation.
    “Sushilkumar Shinde mustbesacked andthe Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi must tender an unconditional apology,” Prasad said. “BJP shall not tolerate this repeated insult of Hindu and saffron traditions of India,” he said, adding, the party has never linked religion with terror as terroristshad no religion.
    RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav took strong exception to Shinde's “insensitive” remark, calling it “unpardonable” andsaiditcould alsoinfluence investigations in Malegaon and Samjhauta blastscases.
    “Today, Jamaat-ud-Dawa congratulated Shinde. Now, he has become the darling of real terrorists. It is Shinde who is helping our enemies by such statements. Now, even the LeT has welcomed his statement I am told,” Madhav tweeted.
    Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said, “Shinde has to prove what he has said otherwise he has to withdraw the remark or apologise.” JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav fumed over Shinde's comment and said that terror has no religion and asked the home minister to act if he has any such knowledge. “Itisthe government's responsibility to providesecurity.Thehome minister'sjobistoensure peace and notissuestatements,” hesaid.