Even though Congress tried to downplay and distance itself from Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s contentious “saffron terror” remark, the party hit back at the Opposition parties creating an uproar over the statement saying that terrorism has only one colour and that is black.
On the back foot, after the BJP and Shiv Sena objected to Mr Chidambaram’s remarks at the conference of DIGS and IGPs on Wednesday, party general secretary and media department chairman Janardan Dwivedi told journalists, “As far as saffron or bhagwa or kesariya (other words for saffron) is concerned, it is not the issue. The issue is terrorism. Terrorism does not have a colour. Terrorism has only one colour and it is black.”
Apparently concerned that the use of the expression “saffron terror” could have a negative fallout for the Congress, Mr. Dwivedi, maintaining that words should be uttered with care, said: “Terrorism is terrorism and in whatever form it comes, it should be opposed. The saffron colour has been part of our ancient tradition and is associated with our freedom struggle. No particular section of society has sole right on it.”
With the BJP and Shiv Sena demanding an apology from Mr. Chidambaram, Mr. Dwivedi’s remarks were interpreted as “damage control” in party circles.
