New Delhi, July 12: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has said that he stands by his comment that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wins the 2019 General Elections, India will become Hindu Pakistan. The Congress leader, who has kicked up a storm with his comment, refused to get defensive about his statement even as BJP mounts attack on the leader. Tharoor has now dared the BJP to make its stance clear on the issue of Hindu Rashtra.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP said has now said that the debate over BJP's stand on secularism would end if they say it on record that they (the BJP), do not believe in a Hindu Rashtra. Check the news agency ANI's tweet on Tharoor's recent reply:
If BJP does not believe in Hindu Rashtra concept then they should say it on record that we do not believe in a Hindu Rashtra but in a secular republic. This would end the debate: Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP pic.twitter.com/LAt4xEzhMh
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2018
On the question of whether he will apologise for his comment, as many BJP leaders are demanding, he made his stand clear saying that he does not see a reason why he must apologise for his 'point of view.' He reiterated the fact that the BJP must make it clear if they are interested in the idea of Hindu Rashtra anymore. The reply was tweeted by news agency ANI:
I don't see what exactly I need to apologise for BJP's point of view. I'm repeating what is on record from BJP&RSS.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: S Tharoor pic.twitter.com/GMf1PQvcsT
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2018
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy attacked Tharoor for his 'Hindu Pakistan' comment. Swamy said that Tharoor's comment show his frustration and advised that the Congress lawmaker needs medical help. The Congress has distanced itself from Shashi Tharoor's comment saying that it is his personal view but also added that "it is not an embarrasing stance."
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 12, 2018 04:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).