Hindu terror: Is Parliament full of terrorists? Asks Sushma

New Delhi, Jan 24:

leader and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha

on Thursday launched a strong attack on Union Home Minister

for his "Hindu terror" remarks and asked is Parliament full of terrorists?

Questioning the statement made by Shinde, she said, "If the BJP conducts terror camps, then how can the BJP be the main opposition party? What are you trying to say? That the Parliament is full of terrorists?"

Speaking at a protest meeting at Jantar Mantar against the remark, Swaraj said, "Shinde doesn't understand how much he hurt national sentiments. He must apologise to the nation for his comment."

"You (Shinde) call Hafiz Saeed as 'sahab' and Osama as Osamaji....this is what you are. The country is unhappy with you. People of the country are surprised by your statement. Your comment is highly objectionable," she added.

Asserting that Shinde has damaged the national interest by his Hindu terror remarks, Swaraj said, "Saffron is a colour that has existed even before the existence of the BJP. Saffron is a symbol of sacrifice and our culture. There is no link between terrorism and saffron."

"If he (Shinde) wants to see the power of the saffron flag, he should go to the Kumbh Mela, where he will see only one flag: Bhagwa, Bhagwa, Bhagwa," she added.

Newly elected party president Rajnath Singh said the Home Minister should have refrained from making statements of the kind he made against the BJP and RSS in order to ensure that credibility of the political system is maintained.

"Sushil Kumar Shinde is the Home Minister of the country and should not have made such statements," Singh said.

Shinde had made the controversial remark on the final day of the Congress Party's Chintan Shivir in Jaipur. He had accused the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of holding terror training camps and promoting "Hindu terrorism" in the country.

The statement immediately invited condemnation from both the BJP and the RSS. They have demanded Shinde's immediate sacking from the Union Cabinet and apologies from Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi.

(With agencies inputs)