Tharoor claims his office was vandalised; calls vandals 'Sanghi Goondas'

In a series of tweets, Shashi Tharoor launches a scathing on Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha for vandalising his office.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor (Photo: PTI/File)

Thiruvananthapuram: In a series of tweets, Shashi Tharoor launched a scathing attack on Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha for allegedly vandalising his office.  Giving details of what happened, he tweeted: "They poured black engine oil on signs, doors, walls & gate, drove away innocent citizens waiting with their petitions, put up offensive banners & shouted slogans asking me to go to Pakistan."

1/2 Today @YUVAMORCHABJP vandals attacked my constituency office in Thiruvananthapuram. They poured black engine oil on signs, doors, walls & gate, drove away innocent citizens waiting with their petitions, put up offensive banners & shouted slogans asking me to go to Pakistan.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) 16 July 2018

While questioning the act of aggression Tharoor added "Most Hindus will say these Sanghi goondas do not represent us."

2/2 We have all been warned. The BJP’s answer to the simple question “have you given up the dream of a Hindu Rashtra?” is apparently vandalism & violence. That is the face they have shown inThiruvananthapuram today. Most Hindus will say these Sanghi goondas do not represent us.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) 16 July 2018

Responding to a question about the same, he accused the Sangh of not being democratic.

No one. The equal reaction to a speech is a rebuttal speech. Not vandalism. But you need to be a democrat to value that. Not too many of those in the Sangh Parivar, clearly. https://t.co/NtxqVXc3YO

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) 16 July 2018

In his last tweet about this incident, Tharoor added more details of the incident and called the act "an assault on democracy and freedom of expression."

More details are emerging of their vile conduct. They threatened to kill me & to shut down my MP office. This is an assault on democracy & on freedom of expression. We have taken it to the KeralaPolice. https://t.co/GwIJd0diwh

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) 16 July 2018

The Congress MP office was vandalised today by the youth wing activists of the BJP, police said. The attack comes days after he set off a huge row with remarks that BJP, if voted to power again, will rewrite the constitution and pave the way for the creation of a "Hindu Pakistan". Defending their action, state unit vice president of the BJYM Renjith Chandran claimed Tharoor had a "soft corner" for Pakistan. "The comments were made for political gains. He should not have made the remarks as an MP of Thiruvananthapuram. The remark, which will lead to communal polarisation, should be withdrawn immediately," he told PTI. Chandran said such "democratic protests" will continue against the former Union minister. Thiruvananthapuram district BJP chief S Suresh said Tharoor had "insulted" India and the Hindu community with his "Hindu Pakistan" remarks, which he dubbed as "anti-national". He said more protests will follow, including by the saffron party's women workers. Police, meanwhile, said BJYM activists poured engine oil in front of the local MP's office, and that nobody has been taken into custody over the protest so far.The protesters placed a wreath with the message "Pakistan Office" at the entrance of Tharoor's office. (With inputs from PTI)