Gandhi told to apologise for Tharoor comments

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) yesterday hit out at Congress leader Shashi Tharoor over his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP’s reaction came a day after Tharoor reportedly claimed an unnamed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) source had told a journalist that Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shiv Linga, who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper).

A Shiv Linga is an abstract representation of the Hindu deity Shiva.

The BJP asked Congress chief Rahul Gandhi whether he supported his party lawmaker’s comments.

“The Congress claims to represent the heritage of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Today, under the presidency of Rahul Gandhi, it has been reduced to hurling abuses and the worst form of civil discourse,” BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

He said he would like to know where Gandhi, who claims to be a follower of Shiv, stands on the issue.

“If he does not support the remarks he should apologise to Hindus,” Prasad said.

“The whole nation is watching.”