Padmavati row: Smriti Irani taunts Shashi Tharoor over "Maharaja" comment
What's the story
The recent "Padmavati" row has gotten more dramatic as Shashi Tharoor and Smriti Irani exchanged barbs.
Tharoor earlier claimed that the "so-called valorous maharajas" had scampered to safeguard their interests when the British "trampled" on their honor and were now after a filmmaker for damaging their prestige.
Irani taunted him asking what does Congress's royal-family descendants have to say about his comments.
Here's more!
Dispute
What was the row about?
Referring to the ongoing-protests by Rajput rulers' descendants that Rani Padmini is dishonored in the movie 'Padmavati', Tharoor gave his observations at a literary event.
Subsequently, Irani lashed out as to whether all Maharajas knelt in front of the British.
She inquired what do Congress leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Digvijaya Singh and Amarinder Singh, who hail from royal families, have to say about this.
"Clarification"
After the issue snowballed, Tharoor "clarified" his stand
However, after the issue escalated, Tharoor clarified his statements saying "I am dismayed that some BJP supporters are claiming I attacked Rajput honour." He said he was only referring to some Maharajas "who made accommodations with the British."
He claimed he had never made a communal comment in his life and added that Rajput valor is part of history and "is not in question."
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Meanwhile, Jyotiraditya Scindia asks Tharoor to read up history
Meanwhile, hurt by Tharoor's "Maharaja" comments, Jyotiraditya Scindia hit back at his fellow Congress leader asking him to read up history. The 46-year-old from Gwalior's royal family asserted that he is a Scindia and proud of his past.
Constroversy
What is the controversy around Padmavati?
Padmavati is a period film about Alauddin Khilji, Rawal Ratan Singh, and Rani Padmini.
The Rajput Karni Sena, irked by rumors of a love sequence between Alauddin Khilji and Rani Padmavati, has accused director Bhansali of distorting history; their protests against the film have turned violent.
There is a speculation that the release of the movie might get delayed.