Click to play videoNew Delhi: Ticked off by some within his own party for his saffron terror remarks, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said the phrase 'saffron terror' brought home the message of right-wing terrorism.
On Wednesday, he said the message behind the phrase is that right-wing fundamentalist groups are suspected to be behind some bomb blasts.
"I do not claim patent on the phrase as several colleagues in the UPA have used it earlier. The message should not be lost in the phrase," the minister said.
Asked whether his party's views were different from his, Chidambaram said the party is supreme. His bete noire in the party Digvijay Singh echoed the BJP line and said terror can't be described as saffron.
The furore in Parliament notwithstanding, the Home Minister stands by what he said. That right-wing religious terrorism is a threat to be concerned about. And the phrase saffron terror just denotes that threat, something that the BJP doesn't agree with.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said: "There is no word such a saffron terror. We've said this in both houses."
The Congress has already distanced itself from Chidambaram’s remarks. But he insists there is no difference between him and his party. But senior Congress leaders continued to speak in a different voice.
"Saffron should not be used to describe terror. We are grateful to the home ministry for having taken cognisance of the Hindu terror. But I have objection to using colour, class and religion to talk about terrorism," Digvijay said.
Sources say the home ministry suspects the hand of Hindu organisations in at least 16 terror cases. The reason why the Home Minister probably warned the police brass and set off the saffron debate. And in the process triggered a politics of colour.
The biggest criticism of the phrase saffron terror was that it belittled a word which is part of the national flag and of the Indian spiritual consciousness.
The Home Minister says he used the word only to convey the message of right-wing fundamentalism, and the phrase served its purpose. But will this clarification put a lid on the raging colour controversy?
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
