Shinde regrets ‘saffron terror’ remark; BJP accepts

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AGENCY
NEW DELHI: In a step aimed at appeasing the main Opposition Bhartiya Janata Party, prior to the Budget Session of Parliament, Union Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Wednesday voiced regret over his ‘saffron terror’ remark.
In a statement released by his office,  Shinde said, ”I had no intention to link terror to any religion. My statement given in Jaipur last month has created a misunderstanding.”
Earlier, staging a strong protest over Home Minister’s ‘saffron terror’ remarks, the principal opposition party had on Wednesday said  Shinde’s comments were part  of a conspiracy to divide the nation for vote bank politics and had demanded an apology.
Intensifying attack against  Shinde ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament starting today, BJP president Rajnath Singh questioned the Home Minister’s intentions in making such a provocative statement.
”This comment of the Home Minister is part of a conspiracy to divide the nation for vote bank politics,”  Singh said, addressing a large number of protesting party workers at Parliament Street here on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the BJP accepted and welcomed Shinde’s statement.
”We accept the Home Minister’s apology. We again warn the government that such baseless allegation will compromise the national security,” BJP spokeswoman Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters.
Earlier in the day, BJP president Rajnath Singh and other senior leaders led thousands of party workers in a protest against  Shinde at Jantar Mantar.