Tharoor office defaced over ‘Hindu Pak’ jibe

Thiruvananthapuram, July 16

Activists of the BJP’s youth wing on Monday defaced the office of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor here, police said, days after he triggered a row with remarks that the BJP, if voted to power again, will rewrite the Constitution and pave the way for creation of a “Hindu Pakistan”.

Members of the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) raised slogans against Tharoor and poured black oil in front of his office, while demanding an apology for his comments.

“Today @YUVAMORCHABJP vandals attacked my constituency office in Thiruvananthapuram. They poured black engine oil on signs, doors, walls & gate, drove away innocent citizens waiting with their petitions, put up offensive banners & shouted slogans asking me to go to Pakistan (sic),” Tharoor tweeted. “We have all been warned. The BJP’s answer to the simple question ‘have you given up the dream of a Hindu Rashtra’ is apparently vandalism & violence. That is the face they have shown today. Most Hindus will say these Sanghi goondas do not represent us (sic),” he tweeted.

Defending action, BJYM state vice-president Renjith Chandran claimed Tharoor had a “soft corner” for Pakistan. Such “democratic protests” will continue against him, he said.

“The comments were made for political gains. He should not have said this as an MP of Thiruvananthapuram. The remark, which will lead to communal polarisation, should be withdrawn,” he said. — PTI