PTI Posted online: Sat Feb 23 2013, 10:48 hrs
Cuttack : RSS supremo Mohanrao Bhagwat today termed Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's expression of regret for his 'Hindu terror' remark as an attempt to appease a particular section of voters for the next elections.
Appearing in no mood to forgive Shinde for his terror remark and subsequent regret, Bhagwat while answering a query from a public during a question-answer session, said, "His (Shinde's) remarks as well as regret are nonsense (bakwas)".
He said the Sangh Parivar never believed in violence and if the ministry of Home Affairs has any prima facie proof of they being remotely connected to any form of violence, then instead of voicing the same in public, the minister should take appropriate legal action on it.
To another question on his view that rapes occur in India and not in Bharat, Bhagwat reiterated that his statement on the subject was "misquoted".
Bhagwat on a four-day visit to Odisha and was speaking at a public meeting here after attending a day-long programme of the RSS, including meeting intellectuals of the city.
http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/1078597/
Opp. accepts Shinde ‘Hindu terror’ apology
Feb 21, 2013 | Age Correspondent | New Delhi
Accepting home minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s apology over his earlier “saffron terror” remarks, the main Opposition BJP on Wednesday said Mr Shinde’s apology should be a lesson for “those who every now and then make baseless allegations” against it and the Sangh Parivar fountainhead, RSS. The faceoff with the Opposition BJP was defused on the eve of the Budget Session of Parliament. The BJP maintained that had Mr Shinde done it earlier it would not have “gladdened the hearts” of terrorists based in Pakistan.
Sources disclosed before Mr Shinde’s statement was released, the BJP had approved the language of the draft after consulting with the RSS top brass.
The RSS-BJP-VHP top brass had held a meeting recently to formulate their strategy to corner the government on the issue.
Earlier in the day, parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath and Mr Shinde met Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj and discussed the matter as the BJP had declared that it will boycott all meetings called by Mr Shinde in his capacity as the leader of the House in Lok Sabha until he apologise. Ms Swaraj, it was learnt, told the Union ministers that nothing less than an apology by Mr Shinde over his comments that the BJP and RSS train terrorists in their camps, will resolve the issue.
Hardening its stand on the issue, the BJP held a protest rally at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday against Mr Shinde’s remarks where senior leaders, including party chief Rajnath Singh, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, national general secretary Ananth Kumar and former party chief M. Venkaiah Naidu along with party workers were detained by the Delhi police when they tried to lead a protest march. They were let off after 10 minutes.
In a brief statement by way of clarification, Mr Shinde said his comment has created a “misunderstanding” and that he had no intention to link terrorism with any religion.
“I am issuing this clarification and expressing regret to those who felt hurt by my statement,” he said.
http://www.asianage.com/india/opp-accepts-shinde-hindu-terror-apology-719