Angered by Shashi Tharoor’s ‘Hindu Pakistan’ remark, Muslim youth leader offers bounty to blacken his face

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said India would become Hindu Pakistan if the BJP wins the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

A Muslim youth leader from Aligarh has announced a reward of Rs 11,000 to anyone who blackens the face of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for his comment that India would become Hindu Pakistan if the Bharatiya Janata Party wins the Lok Sabha election next year.

The Congress distanced itself from Tharoor’s remarks and cautioned its leaders to exercise restraint in their responses to the BJP’s “hatred-filled” statements and actions. (PTI File Photo)

“This irresponsible statement is backed by Congress leadership and has hurt not only Hindus but the patriotic Muslims too and is merely an attempt to divide Hindus and Muslims living together in a great nation,” president of Muslim Youth Association, Mohammad Amir Rashid, said.

“Congressmen are prepared to go to any extent ... to attain power because they are not prepared to see India progressing under the BJP regime,” Rashid, a regular to the shakhas of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, said.

Tharoor made the statement while addressing an event at Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.

“If they have been able to win a repeat of their current strength in the Lok Sabha, then frankly, our own democratic Constitution, as we understand, will not survive... because then they will have all the three elements they need to tear up the Constitution and write a new one,” he said.

The Congress distanced itself from Tharoor’s remarks, a comment he stood by even after facing flak from the ruling party, and expressed its disapproval and cautioned its leaders to exercise restraint in their responses to the BJP’s “hatred-filled” statements and actions.

The BJP demanded an apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi for Tharoor’s “attack on Indian democracy and Hindus”.