PM Modi dislikes Muslims: Tharoor

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor stirred a controversy on Monday when he sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "dislike" towards the Muslim community.

"The Prime Minister dislikes one particular community and discriminates against them in spite of his party's slogan Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas", said Tharoor while observing that Prime Minister was averse to dawn a Muslim cap or attire. Congress member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram constituency added that his comment was an observation and there was no need to get outraged about it.

Tharoor told the media, "There is no reason for an outrage over my comment as it was just an observation. The Prime Minister has been to several places where he was made to wear different hats and apparels, but he never wore something belonging to the Muslim community".

Tharoor further said that the Prime Minister speaks about "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas" whereas just the opposite was happening. "The Prime Minister should be for all the citizens of the country, he cannot be selective. Yet, he is doing that, what does that speak about him?"

The Congress leader said that it was just an observation from his side which he raised and he would be waiting for an answer.

This comes just weeks after the leader sparked another controversy by his 'Hindu Pakistan' comment when he said, "If they (BJP) win a repeat in the Lok Sabha, our democratic Constitution as we understand it, will not survive, as they will have all the elements they need to tear apart the Constitution of India and write a new one. That new one will be the one which will enshrine principles of Hindu Rashtra, that will remove equality for minorities, that'll create a Hindu Pakistan."

Tharoor's statement drew flak from various political quarters, with the BJP demanding an apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi.