Chidambaram's saffron terrorism remark rocks proceedings in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, Aug 27 (ANI): The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena on Friday staged protests in the Rajya Sabha over Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram's statement on the rise in "saffron terrorism", leading to two adjournments in proceedings of the House.

As soon as the House met for the day, Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi sought a clarification from the government. He was joined by BJP members

Chairman Hamid Ansari said no one was being heard with so many people speaking simultaneously and asked members to allow Question Hour to proceed.

"We have important questions. Please allow Question Hour to proceed," he said as he called Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley to speak on the issue.

Jaitley could not speak as Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan countered him.

Ansari first asked members to return to their seats, but when they did not relent, he adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

When the House reassembled, Jaitley said there was a legitimate grievance among a large section of the House over Chidambaram's statement.

"The country had faced militancy in Punjab, Naxal violence, Kashmir problem and other forms of terrorism but they were never associated with any community or religion, he added.

Ansari said a discussion on internal security was slated during the current session and these issues could be raised then.

But as members continued with their protests, he adjourned the House till noon

Addressing Senior police officers of States here on Wednesday, Chidamabaram had said a new phenomenon of saffron terrorism has been uncovered in many bomb blasts"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 of the past."

"The phenomenon does not mean that the threat of terrorist attacks has gone away.," he added. (ANI)