Charges against extremist Hindutva outfit outcome of Congress prejudice: BJP

New Delhi: BJP on Friday suggested that the charge against extremist Hindutva organisation in Samjhauta Express and Malegaon blasts could be an outcome of the then UPA government’s “prejudice” as it raked up ‘Hindutva terror’ and ‘saffron terror’ remarks of the then Union ministers. The party cited a series of comments of Congress leaders and the then ministers to claim that whatever happened appeared to be a “deliberate attempt driven by vote bank politics and political prejudices”. Party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi cited RTI replies, comments of the then officials connected with these probes, intelligence of foreign agencies and court proceedings to allege that the UPA government’s actions have come under a “deep suspicion”. “Use of such phrases by top Congress leaders almost one and an half year before cases were properly transferred (to NIA), when there was no probe report or court’s proceedings raises a big question about their intentions, make it appear that this was not the natural outcome of investigation. “It appears to be a deliberate attempt caused by your (Congress) vote bank politics and political prejudice,” he told a press conference. [caption id=“attachment_2744864” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Trivedi alleged that the saffron terror phrase was first used in 2009 and then Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had reportedly said in an interaction in July 2010 that ‘Hindu terrorism’ was more dangerous than other terrorism. The then Home Minister P Chidambaram used the saffron terrorism phrase in Parliament in August 2010, Trivedi alleged, and wondered if this was a mere coincidence. He also referred to Congress leader Digvijay Singh releasing a book that had “linked RSS to 26/11 Mumabi terror attack”. He condemned Congress for accusing the government of “subverting” the probe in these cases and said courts should be allowed to adjudicate. BJP, he clarified, was not responding to the legal aspect of the cases and their investigation but only highlighting political comments made by Congress leaders. Accusing Congress of practicing “petty politics” in a matter of national security, he said the party should offer regret for its use of such terms. Trivedi also raked up the Ishrat Jahan case and asked Congress to explain if Chidambaram had informed the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chief Sonia Gandhi about the reason behind change in first affidavit. He also asked the party to answer as to how senior party leaders were quoting probe agencies and officials to make comments about these investigations. Asked what the government would do, he said it will take appropriate action in the Ishrat case after its internal probe gives its report.