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Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde has accused the Congress party of creating a narrative of "saffron terrorism" in an effort to hide their own failures in curbing terrorism. Shinde's remarks came after an NIA court on Thursday acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.
The Shiv Sena MP also criticised Congress leader P Chidambaram, who he said questioned the Pakistani origins of the Pahalgam attackers and had previously used the term "bhagwa aatank" alleging that the former Union Home Minister had called Indian people terrorists. "P Chidambaram, who tried to create the narrative of 'saffron terrorism,' had also said some time ago that regarding the attackers behind the Pahalgam attack, what proof is there that they came from Pakistan?" Shinde told ANI at the Parliament premises. "Was he (P Chidambaram) calling Indian people terrorists? Congress should ask him these questions...To hide their failure in eliminating terrorism, he tried to create a narrative like 'saffron terrorism'...Today, the truth has come before the people." The term 'Bhagwa Aatank' (saffron terrorism) is believed to have been first coined after the 2002 Gujarat riots; however, it also gained prominence after the 2008 Malegaon blasts, with Congress leaders using the term during rallies. Regarding Chidambaram's use of the term, the former Union Home Minister had used it during an official meeting with police chiefs to tell them to be aware of such a phenomenon. Congress leader Digvijay Singh has previously used the term to criticise the terror attacks. Notably, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also told ANI, "The hearing went on for many years in the NIA court...The court had to acquit all the accused because there was no evidence against them...When a hearing takes place in court, evidence has to be provided. In the Malegaon blast case, there was no evidence against them, so the court had to acquit them...Terrorists are only terrorists; they have no religion." Mumbai's Special NIA court today acquitted all seven accused of being involved in the 2008 blasts in Malegaon, with the court saying that the prosecution failed to establish the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The NIA court has also ordered the Maharashtra government to award Rs 2 lakh compensation to the families of the victims and Rs 50,000 compensation to the injured. On September 29 2008, six people were killed and 95 others injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon City's Bhikku Chowk. Originally, 11 people were accused in the case; however, the court ultimately framed charges against 7. The lawyer representing the victims' families said that he will be challenging the acquittal of the 7 people in High Court. (ANI)
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