Tharoor: Attack is sign of increasing vandalism

New Delhi, July 18: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who courted controversy with his remark that the BJP will pave the way for a “Hindu Pakistan” if voted to power again, on Wednesday said he will not withdraw any of his statements and demanded an apology from those who attacked his office in Kerala.

Mr Tharoor had also said the BJP would rewrite the Constitution if it came back to power, prompting the ruling party to describe his comments as an “attack on Indian democracy and Hindus”.

Asked about claims that he was trying to break the country with his remarks, Tharoor told reporters outside Parliament that it was not so.

“If you make India for one religion, that can probably break the country. When everyone will be able to live together, how will that break the country,” he said.

“Those who attacked my office should apologise. I am not withdrawing anything,” he added when asked to comment on demands that he should apologise.

Later, he took to the Twitter and said: “During Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha today I raised the attack on my constituency office, not just as an attack on an MP’s constitutionally-protected work but as a sign of the increasing vandalism&violence in response to free speech. The answer to an opinion should be another opinion!”

Five activists of the BJP's youth wing were arrested on Tuesday for defacing his office in Thiruvananthapuram.

Tharoor also raised the issue of the attack on Swami Agnivesh on Tuesday in Jharkhand and said it showed that there was no place for dissent.

“We cannot and should not stand by hooliganism... the rule of law should prevail,” he said.

“I urge the Prime Minister to break his silence and seek action against anti-national elements,” Tharoor said.

Replying to Tharoor, Kumar said the attacks were due to “state-organised terror” and the allegations that it was carried out by right-wing activists are “baseless and far from truth”. — PTI

In the Lok Sabha today I raised the attack on my constituency office as a sign of the increasing vandalism in response to free speech

— SHASHI THAROOR, Congress leader