CM Devendra Fadnavis Demands Apology from Congress over ‘Hindu Terror’ Narrative after Malegaon Verdict

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing it of branding the Hindu community as terrorists during its tenure in power. He demanded that the Congress apologise following the court verdict in the Malegaon bomb blast case, where all accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Addressing reporters in Mumbai, Fadnavis said the Congress-led UPA government had orchestrated a conspiracy to malign the image of Hindus by coining the terms “Hindu terrorism” and “saffron terrorism.” He said, “The Congress created and propagated a false narrative of Hindu terrorism. Today, the court has exposed how baseless that accusation was. The party must apologise to those individuals against whom false charges were levelled—and more importantly, to the entire Hindu community.”

Fadnavis emphasized that he did not blame the police for the case, acknowledging that law enforcement agencies were working under political pressure at the time. “After the 9/11 attacks, the global focus shifted to Islamic terrorism. In India, the UPA tried to shift that focus by creating a narrative around Hindu or saffron terrorism. But let me state clearly: terrorism was never saffron, is not saffron, and never will be.”

Verdict Exposes Political Conspiracy: Revenue Minister

Echoing the Chief Minister’s sentiments, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule called the court’s verdict not just a legal decision but the unmasking of a prolonged political conspiracy. “The court noted there was no solid evidence behind the accusations. This case wasn’t just a legal matter—it was a deliberate attempt by Congress to defame Hinduism globally by equating it with terrorism,” he said.

Bawankule called the Congress’s actions “an unforgivable crime” and asserted that Hinduism has long been a symbol of peace, humanity, and tolerance. “Today’s court verdict is a victory for truth. The Congress must take responsibility and issue a public apology to the Hindu community.”

Nitesh Rane: “This is a Slap to Those Who Tried to Defame Hindus”

Ports and Shipping Minister Nitesh Rane said the judgment was a strong rebuke to those who had tried to defame the Hindu community for political gain. “This is not the first time it’s been proven that the colour of terrorism is not saffron, but green. During the Congress regime, innocent Hindutva activists were wrongly framed in terror cases,” he said.

Rane stated that such political manipulation is not possible under the current BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra, which stand by a Hindutva ideology. “Now that the truth is out, those responsible for this defamation should apologise publicly—and perhaps even visit temples to seek forgiveness from the community they tried to destroy,” he added.

BJP Spokesman: Narrative of ‘Saffron Terror’ Shattered

Keshav Upadhye, Chief Spokesperson for the Maharashtra BJP, said the Congress had suffered a serious political and moral setback with the verdict. “This is a slap in the face to Congress, which attempted to poison national discourse by inventing the concept of ‘saffron terrorism.’ Today’s court ruling shatters that fake narrative.”

He noted that seven prominent individuals—including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Shrikant Purohit, Ramesh Upadhyay, and others—were falsely implicated in the 2008 Malegaon blasts and were subjected to torture in custody. “This was a planned conspiracy to malign the Hindu community and gain political mileage by appearing to protect minorities,” Upadhye said.

He called the court’s ruling a “vindication of justice” and said that it had revealed the truth that Hindus have never been, and will never be, terrorists.

Shiv Sena Questions Congress’s Credibility

Joining the chorus of criticism, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde singled out former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who popularised the term “saffron terrorism.” Shinde recalled how Chidambaram had once questioned whether Pakistani terrorists were behind an attack in Pahalgam, seemingly implying Indian involvement.

“Was he accusing Indian citizens of being terrorists?” Shinde asked. “To cover up their inability to curb real terrorism, the Congress leadership created a false parallel narrative. Now the truth has come out, and they should be held accountable.”

Conclusion

The Malegaon blast case, which had become a symbol of the so-called “saffron terror” theory, has taken a dramatic turn with the acquittal of all accused due to lack of evidence. The verdict has emboldened BJP leaders, who have taken the opportunity to demand an unconditional apology from the Congress, accusing the party of defaming an entire community for political ends.

As the political fallout continues, this verdict may prove to be a turning point in how terrorism-related narratives are constructed and interpreted in Indian politics.