Shashi Tharoor’s Comment on Modi’s Choice of Headgear: Not Amused, Rijiju Demands Apology

Shashi Tharoor had questioned why the PM has never sported Muslim skull caps?

New Delhi, Aug 6: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is controversy’s favourite child. The well-read MP always finds himself amid controversy for his comments. He is yet again in the midst of a controversy over his comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at a seminar titled, “Standing up to hatred: Intolerance and violence in contemporary India,” he had said, “You have seen him (Modi) in various kinds of hilarious extraordinary outfits. Why does the PM, who wears all sorts of headgears from across the world, refuse to wear a Muslim skull cap? Why does he refuse to wear the colour green, which in his view is a colour of Muslims and wearing the colour amounts to Muslim appeasement?” (Also read: Tharoor Hits Back at Piyush Goyal For ‘Foreign Accent’ Remark)

Soon enough, there were voices of protest from Modi’s Cabinet colleagues. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who belongs to the N-E state of Arunachal Pradesh went on to seek an apology from the Congress. He said, “The Congress should immediately apologise for Shashi Tharoor’s remark. It’s a part of our tradition and is our cultural identity.”

Then, Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore who tweeted, “Shashi Tharoor insults the proud cultural heritage of the people of North-East. This condescension & arrogance towards the people of India have become hallmarks of the Congress.” Tharoor responded with a tweet. He said, “Dear Rajyavardhan, you know better. I was obviously referring to the ceremonial headdress offered to the visiting dignitaries, not daily wear. But you’re sidestepping the point. When PM wears all types of headgear, why does he avoid just one?”

Dear Rajyavardhan, you know better: I was obviously referring to the ceremonial headdress offered to visiting dignitaries, not daily wear. But you’re sidestepping the point: when PM wears all types of headgear, eg https://t.co/Ma7tU9q6n1, why does he avoid just one? https://t.co/BeKql5Fnj5

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 6, 2018

However, the debate didn’t end there. BJP general secretary Ram Madhav called Tharoor’s comments ‘shocking’. He said, “It is shocking and condemnable that he’s making such irresponsible statements on the Indian culture and traditions. He should learn to respect all customs.” Clearly, Tharoor’s comment on Modi allegedly avoiding Muslim headgear was lost in the clamour over “hilarious extraordinary outfits”.