'I Didn't Sit On Tagore's Chair, Nehru, Rajiv Did': Amit Shah Slams Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury On 'Disrespect' Allegations

Shah, who was speaking in the Lok Sabha, rubbished the charges levelled against him and said it has become the Congress Party’s mindset to impose false accusations.

(File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: With the war of words gaining momentum ahead of the West Bengal Assembly polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday hit back at Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary over his allegations that he disrespected Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore by sitting on his chair during his recent visit to Shanti Niketan and said it was India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who committed the act earlier.  

Shah, who was speaking in the Lok Sabha, rubbished the charges levelled against him and said it has become the Congress Party’s mindset to impose false accusations.

The Home Minister said that instead of the chair he sat on the window where former Presidents Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil besides the Bangladesh Prime Minister and other guests were seated during their visits earlier. Showing photographs of Pandit Nehru and late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Shah categorically stated that the duo too used the chair during their visits to Shanti Niketan earlier.

The Home Minister also fired a salvo at Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary, stating it was inappropriate to put before the House unconfirmed news gathered from social media.

Shah’s remarks came as Chowdhary earlier took a dig at the former over his recent visit to Shanti Niketan which he alleged was made keeping the West Bengal Assembly elections in mind.

“Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Shanti Niketan and claims Rabindranath Tagore was born there! At least do your studies. Then he [Mr. Shah] goes and sits on the chair used by Tagore. That’s showing disrespect,” Chowdhary said. West Bengal goes to polls in April-May this year.