Shinde's saffron terror comment: BJP to protest outside PM's house

New Delhi: BJP today declared that it will protest outside Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence on the eve of the forthcoming budget session of Parliament to press for its demand for an apology from Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde for his saffron terror remarks. It said Shinde’s comments on saffron terror appear to give the impression that the government is “terrorist-friendly” and was trying to give a “clean chit” to terrorists. [caption id=“attachment_619024” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sushilkumar Shinde. Agencies.[/caption] “These saffron terror remarks have been made as part of a conspiracy and a crime by Congress party. Neither has any clarification or apology been tendered till now,” BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters. He maintained that by making this statement Shinde has taken this issue to the international fora and it has “tarnished” India’s image as a “terror state”. “BJP feels this is a national crime. We will gherao the Prime Minister’s residence on February 20 to press for an apology from Shinde,” Naqvi said, adding a “Halla Bol” (ghearo) protest will continue across the country on the issue. Asked if BJP has diluted its stand against Shinde as earlier it was demanding that the Home Minister be sacked, Naqvi said there is no let-up in his party’s position and Shinde should be dismissed if he does not apologise. PTI