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If BJP returns to power in 2019, it will turn India into a Hindu Pakistan: Shashi Tharoor

Published

8 years ago

July 12, 2018

If BJP returns to power in 2019, it will turn India into a Hindu Pakistan: Shashi Tharoor

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A term that has been in use in recent years for the path Hindutva is striving for India to take –‘Hindu Pakistan’ – used by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to say that is what the country would become if BJP is voted back to power in 2019, has provoked outrage from the ruling party.

MP from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, Tharoor said on Wednesday that if the BJP returns to power with a majority in the Lok Sabha in 2019, it will change the Indian constitution and create of a ‘Hindu Pakistan’. Tharoor was addressing a lecture on ‘Threats faced by Indian democracy and secularism’ in the state capital.

Tharoor said that three factors stand in the way of the BJP: “So far, what they have been preventing them is three things — two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, two-thirds in the Rajya Sabha and half of the states. As you know, they have two-thirds in Lok Sabha and they have more than half the states. They have 20 states and coalitions in two others. The only thing they don’t have is a majority in the Rajya Sabha but because they have so many state governments and because state assemblies elect the Rajya Sabha, you can be sure in 4-5 years, they will have a majority in Rajya Sabha as well,” he said.

He continued, “So the great danger then is that if they 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. That’s not what Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and the great heroes of our freedom struggle fought for.”

The ruling BJP reacted with outrage and demanded his apology over his comments. Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore told ANI: “This is pure hallucination by Shashi Tharoor, I think this is withdrawal symptoms of the fact that neither they are in power nor do they see power coming to them again. It’s Congress that has infringed our Constitution & freedom of our citizens.”

Sambit Patra, a spokesperson for the BJP, accused the Congress of “defaming” India’s Hindus, and asked Rahul Gandhi, the party’s president, to apologise.

“Congress was responsible for creation of Pakistan because of its ambitions. Yet again it has gone ahead to demean India and defame [the] Hindus of India,” Patra said.

After facing criticism on his statement that India would become a Hindu Pakistan if the BJP assumed power next year, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor took to Facebook to defend his statement.

“Since some have bizarrely misconstrued my statement on the BJP seeking to turn India into a Hindu Pakistan, a short explanation of what the term means: I have said this before and I will say it again. Pakistan was created as a state with a dominant religion, that discriminates against its minorities and denies them equal rights. India never accepted the logic that had partitioned the country. But the BJP/RSS idea of a Hindu Rashtra is the mirror image of Pakistan — a state with a dominant majority religion that seeks to put its minorities in a subordinate place. That would be a Hindu Pakistan, and it is not what our freedom movement fought for, nor the idea of India enshrined in our Constitution.”

Congress cautioned Tharoor and urged him to keep “restraint and caution” even as he firmly defended his comments on the BJP making India a “Hindu Pakistan” if it comes to power in 2019. “Why should I apologise when they themselves enshrine the ideals of a Hindu Rashtra,” he told NDTV.

Speaking to NDTV on the controversy over his comment, Tharoor said: “It is clear that the BJP has stood for a Hindu Rashtra, it is a part of the official ideology of the party. The PM has asked the party to read about the thoughts and ideas of Deen Dayal Upadhya, who did not believe in the constitution. These leaders believe the constitution and nation should be built for Hindu people. The PM (Narendra Modi) has never said he disagrees with this.”

Asked to respond to BJP’s demand for Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s apology, he said this has always been his stand and he had said the same in 2013.

Not only Tharoor – many others have talked about the danger of India turning into a ‘Hindu Pakistan’. Apart from Indian writers and intellectuals, a Pakistani poetess Fahmida Riaz had written about India turning out to be just like Pakistan in a poem titled “Tum to bilkul hum jaise nikale”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1531400366246{border-top-width: 10px !important;border-right-width: 10px !important;border-bottom-width: 10px !important;border-left-width: 10px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #e5e5e5 !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”]तुम बिल्कुल हम जैसे निकले

तुम बिल्कुल हम जैसे निकले

अब तक कहां छुपे थे भाई?

वह मूरखता, वह घामड़पन

जिसमें हमने सदी गंवाई

आखिर पहुंची द्वार तुम्हारे

अरे बधाई, बहुत बधाई

भूत धरम का नाच रहा है

कायम हिन्दू राज करोगे?

सारे उल्टे काज करोगे?

अपना चमन नाराज करोगे?

तुम भी बैठे करोगे सोचा,

पूरी है वैसी तैयारी,

कौन है हिन्दू कौन नहीं है

तुम भी करोगे फतवे जारी

वहां भी मुश्किल होगा जीना

दांतो आ जाएगा पसीना

जैसे-तैसे कटा करेगी

वहां भी सबकी सांस घुटेगी

माथे पर सिंदूर की रेखा

कुछ भी नहीं पड़ोस से सीखा!

क्या हमने दुर्दशा बनायी

कुछ भी तुमको नज़र न आयी?

भाड़ में जाये शिक्षा-विक्षा,

अब जाहिलपन के गुन गाना,

आगे गड्ढा है यह मत देखो

वापस लाओ गया जमाना

हम जिन पर रोया करते थे

तुम ने भी वह बात अब की है

बहुत मलाल है हमको, लेकिन

हा हा हा हा हो हो ही ही

कल दुख से सोचा करती थी

सोच के बहुत हँसी आज आयी

तुम बिल्कुल हम जैसे निकले

हम दो कौम नहीं थे भाई

मश्क करो तुम, आ जाएगा

उल्टे पांवों चलते जाना,

दूजा ध्यान न मन में आए

बस पीछे ही नज़र जमाना

एक जाप-सा करते जाओ,

बारम्बार यह ही दोहराओ

कितना वीर महान था भारत!

कैसा आलीशान था भारत!

फिर तुम लोग पहुंच जाओगे

बस परलोक पहुंच जाओगे!

हम तो हैं पहले से वहां पर,

तुम भी समय निकालते रहना,

अब जिस नरक में जाओ, वहां से

चिट्ठी-विट्ठी डालते रहना[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Gandhi Parivar vs Sangh Parivar, Revanth Reddy’s remark sparks BJP attack

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s remarks contrasting the Gandhi Parivar with the Sangh Parivar triggered a BJP response accusing Congress of prioritising the Gandhi family.

Published

3 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s remarks comparing the Gandhi Parivar and Sangh Parivar have triggered a political exchange, with the BJP hitting back at the Congress leader.

Speaking in Kerala on Friday, Mr Reddy described the contest over India’s future as a fight between the two “parivars”. He said the Gandhi family had made sacrifices for the country while accusing the Sangh Parivar of attempting to divide India on the basis of religion, caste, region and language.

What Revanth Reddy said

Mr Reddy cited Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi while speaking about what he described as sacrifices made by the Gandhi family.

He also referred to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, saying they had given up positions, power and high office.

The Telangana Chief Minister said he had no remaining personal political ambitions and described his objective as working towards a Congress-led government at the Centre with Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister.

Mr Reddy also appealed to people to stand with the Gandhi Parivar and oppose the Sangh Parivar. He described the latter as a threat to India’s democracy.

BJP hits back

The BJP responded to Mr Reddy’s remarks on Saturday.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said the Telangana Chief Minister’s comments amounted to an admission that Congress’s objective was to bring the Gandhi family back to power.

He also linked Mr Reddy’s remarks to the ongoing political debate around “vote chori”, the Election Commission, the Constitution and democracy, arguing that the Congress’s focus was instead on the Gandhi family.

The exchange adds to the political confrontation between the BJP and Congress, with Mr Reddy presenting the Gandhi Parivar and Sangh Parivar as opposing forces in India’s political future, while the BJP has interpreted his remarks as evidence of Congress’s focus on the Gandhi family.

India News

Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

Published

23 hours ago

September 25, 2026

APNLive Desk

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.

India News

Congress protests against Gyanesh Kumar, demands Election chief’s resignation

Congress workers took to the streets against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with protests and demonstrations held over the party’s allegations concerning the Election Commission.

Published

1 day ago

September 25, 2026

APNLive Desk

Congress stepped up its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with party workers taking to the streets and demanding his resignation amid the ongoing row over the Election Commission.

The protests followed repeated criticism by Congress leaders of the poll panel and its functioning. The party has alleged irregularities in the electoral process and has sought accountability from the Election Commission.

Congress leaders have also targeted Gyanesh Kumar personally, with Rahul Gandhi among those calling for the Chief Election Commissioner to step down.

Congress takes protest to streets

Congress workers staged demonstrations in different places as part of the party’s campaign against the Election Commission.

The protests featured sharp symbolism, including masks and handcuffs, as Congress sought to highlight its allegations against the poll panel and demand action against Gyanesh Kumar.

The demonstrations are part of a wider confrontation between the Congress and the Election Commission over issues related to electoral rolls and the conduct of elections.

Congress demands Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation

The Congress has repeatedly demanded the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the Election Commission of failing to adequately address the concerns raised by the opposition party.

Rahul Gandhi has also stepped up his criticism of the poll panel. In a statement on Thursday, he demanded that Gyanesh Kumar resign and alleged that the Election Commission had acknowledged the issue of “vote theft”. These are allegations made by the Congress and should not be treated as an established finding unless confirmed by the relevant authority.

The dispute comes amid a broader political debate over electoral rolls, voter verification and the functioning of the Election Commission.

Election Commission under opposition scrutiny

The Congress has intensified its campaign against the poll body in recent weeks, with party leaders repeatedly questioning its decisions and procedures.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, has maintained that India’s electoral process is conducted according to the Constitution, electoral laws and prescribed procedures. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has previously defended the integrity of the electoral system and rejected claims that electronic voting machines can be remotely hacked.

The latest protests add to the continuing political confrontation over the Election Commission and the opposition’s demands concerning the poll panel’s functioning.