Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday took on the Congress in Lok Sabha while accusing the previous UPA government of “weakening India’s stand on terrorism” by using the term “Hindu terrorists.”
“The home minister in the UPA government used the term Hindu terror and Hindu terrorist… It gave Pakistan a chance to speak and Hafiz Saeed congratulated the Indian home minister,” Singh said in Parliament.
“Terrorism is terrorism, it has no religion, no caste,” the Home Minister said while deliberating on the Gurdaspur terror attack earlier this week.
Hafiz Saeed, who is among India’s most wanted men for masterminding the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, had once acknowledged Congress’ stance on ‘Hindu terrorism’. Hafiz is currently roaming free in Pakistan and often makes news for making anti-India speeches.
Yesterday, Singh told Rajya Sabha that overwhelming evidence indicated that the three terrorists who stormed Gurdaspur police station came from Pakistan by crossing the Ravi river.
However, there was no discussion on the matter in Lok Sabha today as the opposition shouted slogans and forced another adjournment.
On Thursday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had slammed the Congress, saying he didn’t expect the party to not allow a debate on national security.
The BJP has also criticised several Congress leaders for their stance on the hanging of Yakub Memon.
On Thursday, senior Congress party member Digvijaya Singh had come under flak for appearingly converting late former President APJ Abdul Kalam’s burial with Yakub’s hanging.
“What a coincidence ! Funerals of Two Indian MuslIms on the same day. Dr Kalam who has made every Indian proud of his achievements for India. And Yakub Menon who has by being associated with those involved in terror brought shame to the whole Community,” Singh tweeted yesterday.
Singh had also asked the government why it was not showing urgency in hanging other known criminals.
“Yakub Memon hanged. Exemplary urgency and commitment has been shown by Govt and Judiciary in punishing an accused of Terror. I hope similar commitment of Govt and Judiciary would be shown in all cases of terror irrespective of their caste creed and religion.”
Home Minister Singh had meanwhile said in Parliament on Thursday that all forums had been provided to Yakub to defend himself.
“We must take terrorism as a challenge and should not project ourselves as divided so that we can succeed in defeating it,” he had said.