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N Sathiya Moorthy in Chennai
Vishwa Hindu Parishad General Secretary Pravin Togadia on Monday claimed his reference to 'Italian dog' was not directed against [Congress president] Sonia Gandhi or any organisation, but an attempt to tell the people about the 'dog mentality prevalent in India'.
"My remark was against persons who were abusing the Hindus of Gujarat for the past five months. If the Congress Working Committee felt that the remark was against Sonia Gandhi, it is their interpretation," he said.
Addressing the press in Madurai, Togadia, however, refused to answer if he regretted his remarks. "I have explained my stand. It was not against Sonia, or anyone," he said.
Asked what he meant by 'dog mentality', he said, "If one dog barked, others would follow suit, not bothering to know why the first one had started it."
Togadia was in Madurai to participate in Sunday's conference of various Hindu organisations backing the controversial ordinance banning forcible conversions in Tamil Nadu.
The VHP leader agreed there was distance between the Sangh Parivar and the BJP. "We are a socio-cultural organisation. The BJP is a political party. Already, there exists a distance between us."
ALSO SEE: Potshots at Sonia will increase: BJP leader Congress condemns Togadia's remarks on Sonia
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