Hindu remark: Congress demands PM Narendra Modi's apology for hurting sentiments of Wayanad people

Trying to corner the Congress party for coining the term “Hindu Terrorism”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the grand old party of India will not be forgiven by the community. 

Without mentioning the Samjhauta Express blast case verdict in which a local court acquitted RSS pracharak Swami Aseemanand and other three accused recently, the Indian PM, while addressing a rally in Wardha district of Vidarbha region, he said: "The term Hindu Terrorism was coined by Sushil Kumar Shinde, the then home minister. However, a court verdict recently made it clear that Congress insulted the country. It insulted the peaceful Hindu community. This community believes the world as one family."

Reacting to the remarks,  AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal said in a statement: "The Prime Minister must apologise to the people of Wayanad and its rich legacy for his most condemnable and divisive statement on the candidature of Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad."

"By alleging that Rahul Gandhi is contesting Wayanad seat on account of there being residents of a particular religion living there, is a disgrace to the high office of Prime Minister is holding," Venugopal said.

"Without understanding the cultural legacy and demography of Wayanad, the PM was making a communal and divisive statement," he said.

Modi said people of the country will punish the Congress for this deed.

Speaking about Rahul Gandhi, Modi said: "This is the reason he (Rahul Gandhi) didn’t dare to contest from a seat where we (Hindu) are in majority numbers. Rather, he decided to contest from a seat (Wayanad) where we are in minority."

Apart from contesting from Amethi seat in Uttar Pradesh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi has decided to fight from Wayanad seat in Kerala.

Amethi is considered as a Congress stronghold.

BJP targets Rahul Gandhi over decision to contest from 'minority dominated seat'

Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad tried to corner Rahul Gandhi over his decision to contest from two seats and said he decided to contest from Wayanad as it is dominated by minority voters.

"Why did Rahul Gandhi go to Wayanad? We found the truth that as per 2011 census, the seat has around 49 per cent Hindus and the rest are minorities," Prasad told media.

The Telegraph reported that Muslims make up 28 per cent of Wayanad’s population while Christians account for 21 per cent. Hindus make up another 49 per cent — with 20 per cent tribal and 29 per cent non-tribal communities — while Jains make up the rest.

Prasad said Gandhi was feeling unsafe in Amethi.