Sena chief threatens retaliation if he targets Hindus unnecessarily
Sena chief threatens retaliation if he targets Hindus unnecessarilyReacting to Rahul Gandhi's reported remarks that "radicalised Hindu groups" posed a bigger threat than terror groups like LeT, Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray yesterday threatened retaliation if Hindus are targetted.
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"We would retaliate if Hindus are unnecessarily targeted," Thackeray said in a statement late last night and asked him to stop "blabbering".
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Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and Shiv Sena Chief Bal ThackerayVishwa Hindu Parishad yesterday termed as "vote bank politics" the remarks made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that "radicalised Hindu groups" pose a bigger threat to India than terror outfits like LeT.
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"His statement is a symbol of vote bank politics which the Congress is playing," VHP's National Vice President Ashok Chowgule said.
He said that Congress is not demanding the execution of terrorists like Afzal Guru and Ajmal Qasab but are interested in casting allegations against Hindu saints and organisations.
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Chowgule said VHP's convention in Goa scheduled on January 4 will extensively deliberate on the issue of 'saffron terrorism'.
According to a secret US diplomatic cable from New Delhi released by WikiLeaks, Gandhi had told US ambassador Timothy Roemer that growth of "radicalised Hindu groups" which create religious tensions in India posed a bigger threat to the country than activities of groups like LeT.
VHP demanded that Rahul Gandhi apologise to Hindus for committing an "intentional act of criminal defamation of Hindus".
"If he does not apologise to Hindus for his remarks, then we appeal to all Hindus to refrain from voting for the party of which he is the General Secretary in all elections," said VHP international Secretary-General Pravin Togadia.
"We were wondering why, all of a sudden, everyone from Chidambaram to Digvijay Singh and other Congress office bearers have started talking of Hindu terrorism."
The disclosure made by WikiLeaks about Rahul Gandhi's communication with the American ambassador to India has explained it all.
"This shows that the ruling party's General Secretary, whom the current Finance Minister calls the next Prime Minister, has no respect for Bharat and its Hindus," Togadia said.
