NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday courted a controversy saying the "Hindi, Hindu, Hindutva" ideology is dividing the country. Tharoor's remark came in the wake of a report which stated that an immigration officer at Mumbai airport denied clearance to an Indian student for not speaking in Hindi.

Tagging the report in a tweet, Tharoor said: "This Hindi, Hindu, Hindutva ideology is dividing our country. We need unity, not uniformity."

The Thiruvananthapuram MP's statement sparked a debate on Twitter with people asking Tharoor to desist from making such controversial remarks. Some suggested Tharoor was "in a race to outdo" Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar to provide the BJP opportunities to target the grand old party ahead of polls. "You certainly have kicked-off the #LokSabha2019 campaign for BJP. Congratulations Shashi Sir!," a user wrote.

Abraham Samuel, a US-bound PhD student had earlier this month posted a tweet saying he was refused clearance at the Mumbai International Airport because he could not converse in Hindi.

"Was just denied immigration by an immigration officer in counter 33 at Mumbai CST AIRPORT, for knowing only Tamil and English and NOT hindi! What a disaster! Reported the officer, hope they take action," Samuel wrote tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and DMK chief MK Stalin in a January 9 tweet.

He said the immigration officer in question not only did not continue to speak to him in English, but suggested that he finds a Tamil immigration counter.

"The central government needs to be reminded often that Tamil Nadu is also a part of India! Disgusting behavior by an immigration officer in Mumbai airport. Hope the concerned officials take action," he added.

"No one in India should be denied immigration for not knowing hindi! Such a disgraceful and arrogant behavior by this immigration officer in counter 33 at Mumbai CST! Hope this is the last instance of this in India," the student said.