PC's saffron terrorism remark triggers uproar in Lok Sabha

Shiv Sena members including Chandrakant Khaire, Subhash Wankhede and Ganesh Dudhgaonkar stormed the well during the Zero Hour protesting Chidambaram's statement that a new phenomenon of "saffron terrorism" involved in many bomb blasts has been uncovered.

Demanding an apology from the Home Minister, they waved copies of party mouthpiece 'Saamna" and sought withdrawal of the statement contending 'how could a Hindu be a terrorist in Hindustan?'

BJP members led by Ananth Kumar were on their feet to support the Shiv Sena members, who later staged a walkout.

Participating in the special discussion later on the situation in the Kashmir Valley, BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi objected to the Home Minister's reference to 'saffron terrorism'.

Noting that 'saffron' is symbol of peace and cannot be linked to terrorism, Joshi warned that if such language is used against it, there would be a reaction. "May be you are wanting that reaction and that is why you have said it."

Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were also disrupted briefly when LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan demanded suspension of Question Hour to discuss the issue of rise in saffron terror in the country.

As soon as the House met for the day, Paswan stood up and wanted to know the fate of his notice for suspension of Question Hour to discuss the rise in saffron terror as pointed out by Chidambaram.

The Home Minister's comments came against the backdrop of investigators finding links between Hindu extremist outfits and at least five bomb blasts in recent years - at Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid, at Ajmer, Goa, Malegaon in Maharashtra and Modasa in Gujarat.