BJP threatens to block Budget Session if Shinde is not sacked

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday threatened to block proceedings in the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament if Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was not sacked over his controversial 'Hindu terror' remark.

BJP president Rajnath Singh said Shinde would have to go because his remark has caused nationwide outrage. He was addressing party supporters at Jantar Mantar in new Delhi.

"Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must apologise for the Home Minister's chaotic remark. Sonia Gandhi will have to come out and clarify Shinde's statement. We will not let the upcoming parliament session function if Shinde is not sacked," said Singh.

"BJP doesn't discriminate anyone or do politics on the basis of caste, race and religion. But Congress is doing dirty votebank politics. The Home Minister's remark has hurt the sentiments of the patriotic people of the country," he added.

Shinde had made the controversial remark on the final day of the Congress Party's Chintan Shivir in Jaipur. He had accused the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of holding terror-training camps and promoting "Hindu terrorism" in the country.

The statement immediately invited condemnation from both the BJP and the RSS.

Shinde refused to comment on Thursday when asked about the BJP's nationwide protests against his remarks.