Sack Digvijay over 'Sangh terror' remark: BJP

Seeking to pin down the Congress as "anti-Hindu", the BJP on Wednesday took umbrage at senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh's remarks about "Sangh terror" and demanded his ouster from the party.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra referred to previous statements by Congress leaders from P Chidambaram to Sushilkumar Shinde and its past and current presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to claim that the Congress was acting against the interests of Hindus.

"We demand Congress leader Digvijay Singh should be sacked from the party. You (Digvijay Singh) pointed finger at millions of Hindus, denigrated them and called them terrorists. Why do you take Hindus for granted, Rahul Gandhi?" Patra told reporters.

Singh has said that he never used the term 'Hindu terrorism' or saffron terrorism but always referred it to as "Sangh" terrorism.

"No terror activity can be linked to religion because no religion supports terrorism...Those accused in the Malegaon, Samjhauta Express and Mecca Masjid bomb blasts were influenced by Sangh ideology. RSS spreads violence, hatred and propagates terrorism...All Hindu terrorists who were caught have links with RSS. Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, was also an RSS functionary. Their ideology spreads hatred, rears violence and from violence, breeds terrorism," he has said.

Patra said, "had Singh used this language against any other religion, would Rahul have spared him? BJP takes this seriously. This is no small matter."

Referring to previous statements by Congress leaders on "saffron terror", Patra said Pakistan is getting benefited when Congress leaders issue such statements.

"With these statements of the Congress, Pakistan gets benefit. The Congress is giving a platform to Pakistan. They are doing things that is helping Pakistan build its narrative," he said. Singh's statements came at a time the country was mourning the killings of soldier Aurangazeb and journalist Shujaat Bukhari in which Pakistan's hand is seen, Patra says.

Patra said Rahul is obsessed with the RSS and sees an RSS hand for everything that happens in the world. "You must stop this. Rahul Gandhi has been reprimanded by court as well but he is doing the politics of appeasement," he added.