New Delhi: Lashing out at the Congress for coining the term “saffron terror” for votebank politics, BJP president Amit Shah said the Congress committed a “jaghanya apraadh (heinous crime)” by linking a religion and a culture to terror.

In an interview to a news channel, Mr Shah said Congress has a habit of disturbing the core values of the Constitution and pressurising the judiciary while reacting on the impeachment notice moved by the Congress led opposition against Chief Justice of India, Deepak Misra. Mr Shah cited how the then PM, Indira Gandhi surpassed a senior judge to appoint the then  Chief Justice of India during the Emergency.

When asked about the allegations against him in alleged Sohrabuddin, Ishrat Jahan encounter cases and Justice Loya murder case, Mr Shah said the question should be put before Congress President Rahul Gandhi as he is at the receiving end.

When asked about opposition’s charge that ever since Narendra Modi led NDA government came to power a process of acquittals, including Mecca Masjid blasts accused and Naroda Patiya riot accused Mayaben Kodnani, have been acquitted, the BJP President said Kodnani was acquitted by the court and the prosecution lawyers were appointed by the Supreme Court. On the Mecca Masjid blast case, Mr Shah said the judiciary is not run by any political party.

“It is clear that the term ‘saffron terror’ was brought up as a part of a conspiracy for vote bank consolidation. Whichever case it is, if this is what they want to do, I just want to ask, all accused were acquitted in the Mecca Masjid blast case, the court had no evidence against any of them, so the ones who were arrested earlier, who let them free? And what right do they have to disrespect the culture of the country by using terms such as saffron terror? “ questioned Mr Shah.

On allegations against the BJP over Kathua and Unnao rapes, Mr Shah said BJP leaders never said that no action should be taken against those involved but only reiterated what the villagers (in Kathua) had been demanding that there should be a neutral probe and a Judicial probe into the case. He said BJP leaders took moral responsibility and resigned. On Unnao case when asked why there was a delay in arresting one of the accused, who happens to be BJP MLA, Mr Shah said there was no delay because as soon as the matter came to the notice of UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, he asked the CBI to probe when the SIT was already probing the case. Mr Shah said it was an administrative action and the CBI had to take over the probe from the local police.