Shashi Tharoor mocks PM Modi; did he ‘insult’ north-east?

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is in news these days. Be it allegation of murdering wife Sunanda Pushkar or his Hindu-Pakistan comments, he is at the centre of controversy. Now a recent comment, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for refusing to wear Muslim skull cap but agreeing to wear Naga headgears with feathers, has gained momentum in the political space.

Addressing a seminar on “Standing up to hatred, violence, and intolerance in contemporary India”, the Thiruvananthapuram MP sparked a controversy, reports PTI. He questioned, “I ask you why does our prime minister wear all sorts of outlandish headgear wherever he goes around the country or around the world? Why does he always refuse to wear a Muslim skull cap?”

He further added, “You see him in Naga headgears with feathers. You have seen him in various kinds of extraordinary outfits which is a right thing for a prime minister to do. Indira Gandhi has also been photographed wearing various kinds of costumes. But why he still always says no to one?”

Not only the headgear, Tharoor also attacked PM Modi on his choice of colours. He asked, “Why does he refuse to wear green, the colour that he says is identified with Muslim appeasement? What kind of talk it is?”

Perhaps this comment irked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government and the Union ministers are demanding Tharoor to take back his words, reports Indian Express. Union MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said, “I demand an apology from the Congress Party for insulting the people of India’s North East and Tribals. Shashi Tharoor described North-East people & Naga Tribal headgears as funny looking outlandish and hilarious.”

Even Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore called this Tharoor’s arrogance and said that this is becoming a hallmark for the Congress. He said, “Shashi Tharoor insults the proud cultural heritage of the people of North-East.  This condescension & arrogance towards the people of India have become hallmarks of.”

Tharoor’s comments were even condemned by BJP leader Ram Madhav, who had advised the Congress parliamentarian to respect the traditions and cultures of the country. He said, “For Shashi Tharoor, Naga headgear is ‘outlandish’ and ‘hilarious’. In his overzealous love for skull cap, Tharoor doesn’t mind insulting the customs of the Nagas and other North East people.”

With the latest comment, Tharoor has sparked another controversy. His previous comment of “Hindu-Pakistan” was not welcomed by the leaders of ruling party. Several leaders including Subramanian Swamy had targeted Tharoor for his comment. Now with Tharoor’s new comment, the question remains whether he insulted PM Modi or north-east.