The Shiv Sena slammed Home Minister P Chidambaram for his alleged remarks on "saffron terrorism", saying he had better do something about the threat from China and Pakistan instead.

"When the country is under threat from China and Pakistan, Chidambaram is not doing anything about it. Instead, he is looking for saffron terrorism," Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said addressing a Dusshera Rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

"Yes, we have a saffron flag and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj gave it to us. Saffron is the colour of revolt," he said. Noting that terrorism does not have any colour, Uddhav accused the Centre of suffering from a bias over the issue. "We never said free Pragya Singh Thakur, but you treated her badly. Then why is Kasab not being treated in a similar fashion," he said, adding, Parliament terror attack convict Afzal Guru too is yet to be hanged despite being held guilty by the Supreme Court.

On criticism over the Sena putting pressure on Mumbai University to withdraw Rohinton Mistry's book Such A Long Journey from the syllabus for allegedly containing derogatory remarks against the party, he said Sena had only commented that such books should not have been included in college syllabus. "These books are meant to be sold on railway stalls and not taught to students. Those criticising our stand should also seek re-introduction of the portions dealing with Afzal Khan's killing by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the curriculum," he said.

Image: Aditya Thackeray seeks his gradfather's blessings at the Shiv Sena rally in Shivaji Park.

Photograph: Sahil Salvi