BJP isolated in protest against saffron terrorism remark

RS adjourned twice after Chidambaram's statement

PTI | August 27, 2010



BJP today found itself isolated in the Rajya Sabha in its protest against Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement on rise in saffron terrorism with Left and other opposition parties joining hands with Congress to target the main opposition.

When the House re-assembled at Zero Hour after two adjournments on the same issue, Brinda Karat (CPI-M) contested Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley's remark that he represents a large section of the House in speaking against Chidambaram's views about saffron terror.

"He is certainly not (representing the whole House)," she said adding that Jaitley could have spoken on behalf of his party.

A large section of the House is concerned that such elements are being promoted by those who do not believe in basic secular views of the country, Karat said adding, "They (BJP) should have condemned such terror in the name of Hindutva."

This provoked protests from BJP members, who said saffron colour is also part of the national flag.

Satyavrat Chaturvedi (Cong) said his party disagreed with Jaitley's views that there was a legitimate grievance among a large section of the House on the use of the expression by the Home Minister.

D Raja (CPI) said right wing extremism posed a great threat to the country.

Pacifying the members, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan said that the Leader of the Opposition did not say anything unparliamentary and a member has a right to disassociate from what someone has said.

As the uproar continued for 20 minutes, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal said the session has been extended by two more days to transact important legislative business.

He also requested the Chair to take up bills before the Special Mentions listed for the day.

The House saw two adjournments during Question Hour over Chidambaram's statement on rise in saffron terrorism.

RS adjourns twice over 'Saffron terrorism' remark

Opposition Shiv Sena and BJP today created an uproar in the Rajya Sabha over Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement on rise in saffron terrorism leading to two adjournments of the House till noon.

As soon as the House met for the day, Manohar Joshi (Shiv Sena) raised the issue of the Home Minister's statement at the conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of Police here on Wednesday.

"There cannot be Bhagwa (saffron) terrorism," he said demanding that Chidambaram should give names of people connected with terror when making such statements.

He found support in BJP members who shouted slogans like "Hinduo ka apman nahi chalega" (insult to Hindus will not be tolerated).

Chairman Hamid Ansari said no one was being heard with so many people speaking simultaneously and asked the members to allow Question Hour to proceed. "We have important questions.

Chidambaram had said a new phenomenon of "saffron terrorism" involved in many bomb blasts has been uncovered.

His comments came against the backdrop of investigators finding links between Hindu extremist outfits and at least five bomb blasts in recent years - at Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid, at Ajmer, Goa, Malegaon in Maharashtra and Modasa in Gujarat.

Ansari said a discussion internal security was slated during the current session and these issues could be raised then.

But as members continued with their protests, he adjourned the House till 1200 hours.

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