Shashi Tharoor Refuses To Withdraw 'Hindu Pakistan', 'Taliban In Hinduism' Statements, Says 'Those Who Attacked My Office Must Apologise Instead'

New Delhi, July 18: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said that he won't withdraw either his 'Hindu Pakistan' statement or the 'Taliban in Hinduism' remark. When questioned if he wanted to apologise for any of the statements, Tharoor said that those who attacked his office in Thiruvananthapuram must apologise and not him.

"I will not withdraw any of my statements, instead those who attacked my office should tender an apology," Tharoor said while speaking to ANI outside Parliament today.

WATCH: Shashi Tharoor refuses to withdraw any of his statements

Shashi Tharoor has been in the line of fire for saying that India will become a "Hindu Pakistan" if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returned to power in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. On Tuesday, the controversy got bigger when Tharoor said, "They are asking me to go to Pakistan. Who has given them the right to decide that I am not a Hindu like them and I don't have the right to stay in the country? Have they started a Taliban in Hinduism?”

Tharoor added that the BJP's discourse on 'Hindu Rashtra' is very dangerous and that "it will destroy the country."

BJP Yuva Morcha activists on Monday reportedly shouted anti-Tharoor slogans and barged into his office and put up a banner that read "Hindu Pakistan" office. They also smeared black oil on his constituency office. Tharoor, however, was not present in the office when the incident happened.

Tharoor slammed the ruling Narendra Modi government saying the BJP was answering him by unleashing goons. "It's been 24 hours since my office has been attacked and the visuals of those who were all present are also there, but no arrest has been made," Tharoor said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 18, 2018 01:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).