Shashi Tharoor's 'Hindu Pakistan' remark: BJP youth wing activists smear black oil on Congress leader's office in protest

Thiruvananthapuram: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) youth wing activists on Monday smeared black oil on Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s constituency office over his comment that a “Hindu Pakistan” would be created if the ruling party at the Centre returned to power. [caption id=“attachment_4268957” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. AFP[/caption] Tharoor however, was not present in the office when the incident took place. He was attending other functions. The Yuva Morcha activists, shouting anti-Tharoor slogans, barged into the office and even tied a banner saying “Hindu Pakistan” office. Thiruvananthapuram district BJP president S Suresh said the incident was a protest against a wrong statement. “This protest took place as Tharoor is the Lok Sabha member from here and hence this is nothing but a natural protest because of his erroneous statement,” said Suresh. Senior Congress legislator VD Sateeshan told the media that the incident was a show of the BJP’s arrogance. State Congress president MM Hassan and Leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala strongly condemned the act. Speaking on “Threats faced by Indian Democracy and Secularism” at an event last week, Tharoor said : “The great danger is that if they (the BJP) are able to win a repeat of their current strength in the Lok Sabha, then frankly our democratic constitution as we understand will not survive because they will have all the three elements they need to tear up the Constitution of India and write a new one.” “That will be a new one which will enshrine the principle of Hindu Rashtra, will remove equality for minorities, that will create a Hindu Pakistan.” On 14 July, a Kolkata court summoned Tharoor following a petition moved by lawyer Sumeet Chowdhury dubbing the leader’s comments as “a deliberate and malicious act " that was “intended” at “outraging” religious feelings.