Protest in Coimbatore against Rahul Gandhi’s Hindu terror remarks

COIMBATORE - Scores of activists belonging to the Shiv Sena and Munnani Hindu outfits held a massive black flag demonstration against Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi here on Thursday for his recent remarks on Hindu terror released by WikiLeaks.

Interacting with mediapersons, Munnani spokesperson S. Shivalingam said Gandhi should render an apology for his irrational remarks.

“The support which has been extended to the terrorist linked organisations by Rahul Gandhi is unacceptable and therefore there is no place for Rahul Gandhi in India. If he wants, he can go to Pakistan until he apologises for the words that he has spoken about. We demand this to be taken back,” said Shivalingam.

“This is the reason we have staged this Black flag demonstration and we will keep on staging such demonstrations wherever he visits as a mark of protest against his illogical statement. He should apologise and take back his words,” he added.

Gandhi, who arrived in the state on Wednesday, is on a two-day visit to encourage the youth to join the Youth Congress in the State.

During his visit, he met the newly elected office bearers of the state youth Congress.

According to a secret US diplomatic cable from New Delhi released by WikiLeaks, at a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at his residence in July 2009, Rahul Gandhi was asked by the US ambassador about LeT’s activities in the region and immediate threat to India, to which he said there was evidence of some support for the group among certain elements in India’s indigenous Muslim community, the cable notes.

“However, Gandhi warned, the bigger threat may be the growth of radicalised Hindu groups, which create religious tensions and political confrontations with the Muslim community,” the cable says.

Since then Gandhi, commonly known as ‘crown prince’ of the Congress party, has been facing extreme criticism from the opposition leaders after his remarks were leaked on WikiLeaks. (ANI)