Following the release of the 160-page judgment of a special court in the Samjhauta Express Blasts case yesterday (28 March) which heavily criticised the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for its handling of the case, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley released a statement slamming the previous UPA government for pushing the narrative of ‘Hindu Terror’.

The court has acquitted all the accused in the case, including Hindu spiritual leader Swami Aseemanand. The court’s order raps investigative authorities for trying to attach a particular religion to terrorism, and noted that a court of law could not be swayed by the dominant political discourse or public perception of the day, as per a report by The Indian Express.

As per an ANI report, Jaitley said, “Congress coined 'Hindu terror' and filed cases based on fake evidence to create this theory but in the end court has to take decision. Perhaps because of this, those who considered Hindus as terrorists are now trying to prove their devotion towards religion.”

The Hindu Terror narrative received its strongest push in 2009-10, when in every case assigned to NIA—from the Samjhauta Express Blasts, Malegaon to Ajmer Sharif— they overlooked the first set of evidence and replaced it with evidences supporting the Hindu Terror narrative.

Also Read: Another Blow To ‘Hindu Terror’ Narrative: SIMI Operative Reveals Pakistan-Linked Terrorist’s Role In Samjhauta Blasts