Shashi Tharoor’s “Hindu Pakistan” jibe found suport from his congress acquaintance, but BJP demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi.
Tharoor had on Wednesday sparked a big controversy after claiming that “a BJP win in 2019 Lok Sabha polls will create conditions which would lead to creation of “Hindu Pakistan” — “a nation that’ll remove equality for minorities, that’ll create a Hindu Pakistan and that isn’t what Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad and great heroes of freedom struggle fought for.”
The saffron party had then asked for an apology from the congress leader.
But Tharoor on the following day wrote in a post in facebook, “I have said this before and I will say it again,” adding that India shouldn’t become like its neighbours Pakistan where minorities are suppressed.
“I don’t see what exactly I need to apologise for BJP’s point of view. If they are no longer interested in the idea of Hindu Rashtra they must admit. Until they do so, how can one apologise for reflecting their point accurately,” Tharoor also said while talking to the media.
It gave way to a huge rage between the two national parties and while many Congressmen echoed Tharoor’s comments that the BJP/RSS idea of a Hindu Rashtra is a “mirror image” of Pakistan, the ruling party accused congress of ‘demeaning’ Hindus and ‘defaming’ the country.
The congress later without naming Tharoor, urged its leaders to be “cautious” and “choose their words carefully”.
Also Read: Creation of ‘Hindu Pakistan’ will be result of BJP Win In 2019: Shashi Tharoor
The government’s spokesperson Sambit Patra however demanded an apology from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.
“Congress was responsible for creation of Pakistan because of its ambitions and yet again it has gone ahead to demean India and defame Hindus of India,” said Patra accusing Tharoor quoted TOI.
“From “Hindu terrorists” to “Hindu-Pakistan” the Pakistan appeasing policies of Congress are unparalleled!” he added.
Congress spokesperson Randeep S Surjewala, too joined the uproar accusing the BJP of prospering through, “an unprecedented atmosphere of division, bigotry, hatred, intolerance and polarisation for last four years.”