New Delhi, Aug 25 (IANS) Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday said a new phenomenon of ‘saffron terrorism’ was behind several bomb blasts, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to accuse the government of trying to divert attention from its failures.
Chidambaram, while inaugurating a conference of chiefs of police forces of the country, said: ‘There is no let up in the attempts to radicalise young men and women in India.
‘Besides, there is the recently uncovered phenomenon of saffron terrorism that has been implicated in many bomb blasts,’ he said referring to Hindu radical outfits.
Reacting to the statement, BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said: ‘The country is witnessing a lot of chaos. Chidambaram needs an excuse to divert the attention of the nation.
‘The government, led by Sonia Gandhi (United Progressive Alliance chairperson), Manmohan Singh (prime minister) and Chidambaram, has messed up on every front, whether it is international dialogue, disturbances in Kashmir, leftwing extremism or the Commonwealth Games.
‘They are now trying to divert the attention of the nation,’ he alleged.
Stating that terrorism was not linked to any religion, Rudy accused the government of targeting Hindus.
‘Terrorism cannot be attached to any religion. Individuals may be terrorists,’ he said. ‘By using the term ‘saffron terror’, he has directly targeted the Hindus. It is part of the government’s appeasement policy.’
