India

PM can wear ‘outlandish headgear’ but not skull cap, says Shashi Tharoor; BJP seeks apology


Union Minister Kiren Rijiju demanded that the Congress should apologise for Tharoor’s comments.

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has plunged headlong into a fresh row with remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi donning “outlandish” Naga and other headgear on his trips but refusing to sport a Muslim skull cap, comments the BJP dubbed as insulting to the people of the North-East.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also demanded that the Congress apologise for Tharoor’s comments.

“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? 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?” Tharoor said.

The former union minister was addressing a seminar on “Standing up to hatred, violence and intolerance in contemporary India” in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

Tharoor, who had recently kicked up a controversy with remarks that the BJP, if voted to power again, will rewrite the Constitution and pave the way for the creation of a “Hindu Pakistan”, said PM Modi shunned the green colour as he felt it was associated with Muslim appeasement.

“Why does he refuse to wear green, the colour that he says is identified with Muslim appeasement? What kind of talk it is?” he said.

Tharoor’s comments drew a sharp response from Union Minister Rijiju, who said the Congress leader’s remarks insulted tribals and people from the North-East.

“I demand apology from the Congress Party for insulting the people of India’s North East & Tribals. Shashi Tharoor described North-East people & Naga Tribal headgears as funny looking outlandish & hilarious,” Rijiju, a native of Arunachal Pradesh, said on Twitter.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore also slammed Tharoor for his remarks. Taking to Twitter, he said:

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav also took to the micro-blogging website and criticised Tharoor for insulting customs of Nagas and north-eastern people.

VIVEKANANDA WOULD BE ATTACKED IF HE WAS ALIVE TODAY

In his address, Tharoor said he is convinced that if Swami Vivekananda was alive today, he would be attacked by right-wing goondas (thugs).

“I am convinced that if Swami Vivekanda were to come to today’s India, he would be the target of these goondas. They will bring engine oil to throw at his face and will also try to knock him down on the streets because Vivekanda would be saying, respect people. He would say humanity is more important. We are Hindus in the Vivekananda tradition, not in the Savarkar or Golwarker tradition,” he said.

This was said in reference to the attacks on social activist Swami Agnivesh by right-wing activist in Jharkhand last month.

Tharoor also criticised the BJP-led central government for its inability to stop the increasing cases of cow vigilantism and attacks on minorities in the country.

Quoting a data from the Union Home Ministry, he said that the country has seen 2,920 incidents of communal violence in the last four years alone.

“After the BJP came to power, we have seen a widespread rise in the number of incidents of communal violence,” Tharoor said.


Adam Rizvi

Adam Rizvi

Adam Rizvi has a unique talent for publishing to marketing to managing projects, writers & assigning the task to correspondents. Edits an e-paper & cover the news. An activist, spend time with family & friends. His adorable daughters, Alizah & Anum are his lifelines. He spends his time reading, swimming, hiking, cycling, and watching with them their favorite TV shows, & fixing the Big Old House where he lives. Studied literature & management. Volunteer for non-profits. President of a Travel Agency. Publisher. Circulated the newspapers. Acted & Assisted in directing & production of the award-winning film & TV Serial. Scripted a little. Modeled. Emceed the live shows & judged competitions. A caring sibling and was an obedient son of his late doting parents whom he misses dearly. Adam uses his various positions & experiences in building a strong relationship with all. Appreciates his articles being read, commented, liked, and shared. He can be reached at his personal email: mediaiss@gmail.com.

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