Congress mum after PM downplays Tharoor's 'cattle class' remarks

The Congress party chose to keep mum over Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor's controversial "cattle class" remarks, a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh termed it as a "joke".

The Congress party chose to keep mum over Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor's controversial "cattle class" remarks on Saturday, a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh termed it as a "joke".

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"Whatever had to be said, has been said," said party spokesman Manish Tewari.

"We are not reacting," Tewari told IANS when asked whether the party has decided to bury the issue.

The minister ran into trouble for the message he posted on the microblogging site Twitter in which he said sarcastically in response to a query that he would travel "cattle class out of solidarity with all our holy cows!"

Though Tharoor apologised for his remarks, the Congress had said it would take "appropriate action" against him "at an appropriate time".

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had even asked for Tharoor's resignation for what he called were "irresponsible" comments.

Gehlot, who met party president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday, also refused to comment on the issue.

"I said what I felt. I have no prejudice against anyone," Gehlot told reporters after the meeting.