MUMBAI, Oct. 13 -- Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday accused the Opposition of conspiring with foreign powers to incite civil unrest, claiming that "foreign powers" were backing the Opposition-led protests in Delhi and that the march to the Supreme Court to file a petition on September 12 was a "black day" for democracy.

The Shiv Sena president also claimed that external entities were conspiring to derail India's economic progress and spread civil unrest.

Shinde said the Opposition march to the Supreme Court on Monday was no trivial matter and an attack on the top court. "It was an insult to India's highest judiciary. And that's why I condemn this once again, and they should apologise to the 1.4 billion people o...