Shashi Tharoor summoned by Kolkata court over his 'Hindu Pakistan' comment

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been summoned by Kolkata court over his Hindu Pakistan comment. Tharoor was summoned after a Kolkata based advocate, Sumeet Chowdhury, filed a case against Tharoor under Section 153A/295A of the Indian Penal Code and Section 2 of The Prevention Of Insults To National Honour Act, 1971.

The advocate’s petition against Shashi Tharoor reads ‘Tharoor's comments hurt religious sentiments of the countrymen, insulted the Constitution, and has been intended to create great conflict and disharmony based on the religious divide.’

WATCH| Congress Playing Dangerous Game Of Religion And Communal Division, Blasts Nirmala Sitharaman. Here's What She Said

Earlier on Friday, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman blasted Shashi Tharoor and the Congress party for instilling fear in the minds of people. Sitharaman took on Tharoor for his recent statement in Thiruvananthapuram, wherein he said that BJP would create a 'Hindu-Pakistan' if it wins 2019 General Assembly Elections. 

READ| Shashi Tharoor's 'Hindu Pakistan' Comment: Congress Goes Into Damage Control Mode, Asks Leaders To Choose Their Words Carefully

However, after Tharoor's controversial remark, the Congress went into damage control mode while implicitly slamming Tharoor for his statement, saying the party workers should choose their words carefully.

While downplaying the rebuke for Shashi Tharoor, Surjewala hit out at the BJP and said, “India’s values & fundamentals are an unequivocal guarantee of our civilisational role & set us apart from the divisive idea of Pakistan. All Congress leaders must realise this historic responsibility bestowed upon us while choosing words & phraseology to reject BJP’s hatred.”

WATCH| BJP Demands Rahul Gandhi's Apology For Shashi Tharoor's 'Hindu Pakistan' Remark, Accuses Congress Of Hating 'Hindus'

Meanwhile, the BJP demanded an explanation and apology from the Congress President, Rahul Gandhi for his party leader’s statement.

“Rahul ji, you have started hating Indians and also are disgusted with the Hindus of the country. Rahul Gandhi is the same person who coined the term ‘Hindu terror’ in 2008. While speaking to the US Ambassador, he had said he is not frightened of the LeT, he is frightened of ‘Hindu terror’ instead. Following suit, P Chidambaram and Sushil Kumar Shinde had propagated the tem and had accused the RSS of running a terror  factory. The very next day, Pakistani newspapers had carried the news and said they stand by the Congress statement,” said the BJP national spokesperson, Dr Sambit Patra.

READ| Congress Says If BJP Wins, India Will Become "Hindu Pakistan"

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor courted massive controversy after saying should the BJP come into power in 2019, the democratic constitution of India would cease to survive and India would turn into a "Hindu Pakistan".

"Because all the three elements they need to tear up the constitution of India and write a new one. And that will be a new one that will enshrine the principle of a Hindu Rashtra, that will remove equality for the minorities, that will create a Hindu Pakistan," said Tharoor while addressing a gathering at Thiruvananthapuram.