For 'Hindu Pakistan' statement, Shashi Tharoor summoned by Kolkata court
What's the story
A Kolkata court has summoned Congress leader Shashi Tharoor over his 'Hindu Pakistan' remarks and has asked him to appear on August 14. Advocate Sumeet Chowdhury, who filed the case, alleged the comments of Thiruvananthapuram MP insult the Constitution. Notably, at a lecture, earlier this week, Tharoor claimed if Bharatiya Janata Party was voted to power in 2019, India will become 'Hindu Pakistan.'
Allegations
Tharoor's comments hurt religious sentiments of Indians, lawyer claimed
Chowdhury filed a case against Tharoor under IPC Section 153A/295A and Section 2 of The Prevention Of Insults To National Honour Act, 1971. Chowdhury alleged Tharoor's comments hurt religious sentiments of Indians, and were made to upset the communal harmony of the nation. He alleged Tharoor forgot 'secular India' was superior to 'Islamic State Pakistan' and his statements were in bad taste.
Aftermath
BJP leaders slammed Tharoor over his comments
Tharoor's statements snowballed into a controversy with Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore terming it 'hallucination'. However, senior Congress leader PL Punia said Tharoor should explain why he made such statements but added BJP-RSS didn't like the Constitution and wanted changes. "The Constitution, as it is now, is not acceptable to them," he said. Meanwhile, Congress leaders have been reportedly asked to 'choose their words wisely'.
Details
Despite controversy, Tharoor stands by his statement
At the centre of the controversy, Tharoor refused to apologize. He said the idea of BJP-RSS idea of a 'Hindu Rashtra' mirrored 'intolerant theocratic state' Pakistan. He claimed the idea was to 'put minorities in a subordinate place'. "That would be a Hindu Pakistan and it is not what our freedom movement fought for, nor the idea of India enshrined in our Constitution," Tharoor said.