The Congress Benches were stunned when Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched a sharp attack accusing the previous UPA government of “weakening India’s fight against terrorism” by coining the term “Hindu terror”. Singh on Friday was making a statement in Lok Sabha on the Gurdaspur terror attack.
Unlike in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, the Home Minister’s statement on the Gurdaspur attack was heard with rapt attention in Lok Sabha with Congress members suspending their protests at the behest of party leader Mallikarjun Kharge. But as soon as Singh concluded his statement, Congress members were up on their feet and stormed the well of the House.
This prompted Singh to attack the Congress. “Terrorism is the biggest challenge facing the country. Neither Parliament nor the country should appear divided on this... On the one hand, our jawans making the supreme sacrifice while fighting against terror, on the other we have this noise and disruption. How can the country accept this,” he said. The minister asked all political parties to present a united front to the world against terrorism.
Rajnath raked up a host of issues, including the Sharm-el Sheikh fiasco and statements at Havana NAM Summit besides the 1962 war with China, to underline Congress’ alleged failures, raising temperatures in the House.
He later repeated his statement on micro-blogging site twitter to drive home the point.
Expressing readiness to answer any question on the issue if proper notice is given for a discussion, he said, “Our government and the Prime Minister are constantly making efforts to deal with the challenge.”
As the protests turned shriller, he hit back, “In this House in 2013, the then home minister (P Chidambaram) had coined the new terminology ‘Hindu terrorism’ in order to change the direction of probe. It weakened our fight. As a consequence, Hafiz Sayeed (LeT founder) of Pakistan had congratulated the then Home Minister. Our government will never allow such a shameful situation again.”
Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is among India’s most wanted men and roams free in Pakistan, often making provocative anti-India speeches.
Livid Congress members wanted to react but were reined in by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, prompting angry protests by opposition members, many of whom were seen waving the rule book to make their point.
“This is very unfortunate. You are losing our respect,” Kharge was heard remarking amid the din. Opposition members crowded around her table demanding Kharge be allowed to speak but the protests went in vain.