VHP PIL against Shinde's 'Hindu terror' remarks dismissed

A petition filed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad against Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's "Hindu terror" remarks was dismissed by the Allahabad high court on Tuesday

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Shiva Kirti Singh and Justice Dilip Gupta dismissed the public interest litigation, which had sought to make Shinde, the cabinet secretary and the Union home secretary respondents.

Significantly, Home Secretary R K Singh had, barely a few days after Shinde accused the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh of running training camps for terrorists, stated that there was "evidence" to suggest that a number of terror accused in the country had links with the Sangh.

The statements have caused much consternation among the Sangh Parivar outfits, including the BJP, which is the main opposition party.

 In the PIL, it had been alleged that the January 20 statement of the Union home minister was "scandalous", "provocative", "against the soul of the Constitution" and had "adversely affected national harmony and social structure, putting national security and sovereignty in danger".

The PIL had prayed for issuing directions to the Centre to frame rules with regard to issuing statements besides demanding an "independent judicial inquiry into the truth of the statement".

However, Additional Solicitor General of India K C Kaushik, appearing on behalf of the Centre, contended that the PIL was "misconceived" and liable to be "dismissed as not maintainable".