The Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, on Monday sought an apology from the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, for use of the term 'Saffron Terrorism' by the home minister.
"The post of the Prime Minister has been devalued and he has become helpless as someone else is in control of the administration," Mr Modi said at a public function here.
Criticising the home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, for using the term 'saffron terrorism', Mr Modi said, "it is the height of misfortune that the Union minister has demeaned the chair which was once held by the Iron man of India, Sardar Patel."
"Is not there a saffron flag on a temple? Would you call it a centre of terrorist activity? Swami Vivekanand, Dayanand Saraswati, Shankracharya, Swami Ramdas and others who have sacrificed for the country wore saffron clothes. Are you calling them terrorist?" Mr Modi asked.
"Every Congressmen will have to answer this. And the Prime Minister has to apologies to the people of the country for this," the chief minister added.
Mr Modi said saffron colour is an integral part of Indian tradition. "By conning the term 'saffron terrorism', the home minister has caused insult to the Indian heritage," he said. Attacking the Congress on the alleged misuse of CBI against him, Mr Modi said one cannot make place in people's heart through CBI.
Mr Modi also dared the Congress-led UPA government to compete with Gujarat on the development front.
"The Union government had the country, entire administration and crores of rupees at its disposal. I dare the Union government that despite of all this, Gujarat will be far ahead if there was a competition," he said.
He said those bent on demeaning Gujarat will be taught lesson by the people themselves.
The Chief Minister, on Monday dedicated number of project to the people which included a recreation centre, water pumping and distribution station, a sports and commercial complex, a Sardar Patel Heritage Hall and Zonal office of New western zone of the city to name a few.
Mr Modi speaking at a function in Vadodara yesterday also had demanded an apology from the Prime Minister on the 'saffron terrorism' issue.