New Delhi : Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s claims on ‘Hindu terror’ has triggered a huge political controversy with the BJP on Monday accused the Congress of indulging in vote bank politics and demanded resignation of Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

“What is the meaning of joining Hindu and saffron colour with terror? It is a downright insult of India’s spiritual, cultural and civilisational heritage. Hindus has always been generous… India is secular because Hindus respect the other view,” party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

“Saffron is the beacon of India’s spiritual and religious heritage, what is the intention behind linking saffron with terror?” he added.

“Forces in Pakistan will be the happiest today; Pakistan is always in a mode of denial, whether it is 26/112 or attack on the border, they will say look at what your home minister is saying,” Prasad said, adding, “When SIMI or Indian Mujahideen was banned, did we ever say it is Muslim terror? A terrorist is a terrorist regardless of his faith.”

Referring to the Sethu Samudram row, the senior BJP leader demanded an answer from Congress president Sonia Gandhi on what he termed as the repeated hurtful attacks on Hindu sentiments always.

“The BJP will not tolerate the use of Hindu terror or saffron terror in India. Sushilkumar Shinde must be sacked and PM and Sonia must tender unconditional apology,” he said.

Prasad also slammed Congress Digvijay Singh for his comments linking RSS with terror, while also accusing the Congress of indulging in vote bank politics.

“These are copy book cases on rank vote bank politics on terrorism and questioned the delay by the government in deciding on the mercy plea of Afzal Guru and its alleged slow response on the issue of illegal immigration,” he said.

He also announced that the BJP will launch a nationwide protest against UPA government on January 24 against Sushilkumar Shinde.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Sunday alleged that the training camps run by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were promoting Hindu terrorism. He also alleged that the RSS and the BJP were behind the Samjhauta Express, Meccca Masjid and Malegaon blasts.

Shinde said, “Training camps of both the BJP and the RSS are promoting Hindu terrorism. Whether it is Samjhauta blast or Mecca Masjid blast or Malegaon blast, they plant bombs and blame it on the minorities.”