'Sad That It Took Pakistani Leader to Remember Tipu Sultan': Tharoor's Praise for Imran Khan Sparks Row

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posted on 5 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Tharoor was responding to Khan’s tweet on May 4 where he hailed Tipu Sultan as 'a man I admire because he preferred freedom and died fighting for it rather than live a life of enslavement'.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday showered praise on Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for his “genuine and far-reaching" interest in Indian history, adding in the same vein that it was “disappointing" that it took a Pakistani leader to remember Tipu Siltan.

Tharoor was responding to Khan’s tweet on May 4 where he hailed Tipu Sultan as “a man I admire because he preferred freedom and died fighting for it rather than live a life of enslavement".

One thing i personally know about @imranKhanPTI is that his interest in the shared history of the Indian subcontinent is genuine & far-reaching. He read; he cares. It is disappointing, though, that it took a Pakistani leader to remember a great Indian hero on his punyathithi. https://t.co/kWIySEQcJM— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) 6 May 2019

The exchange has once again brought the 18th-century ruler of the erstwhile Mysore kingdom in the midst of political discourse, with both the BJP and the Congress indulging in a war of words.

Soon after Khan’s tweet, BJP MP Chandrasekhar tagged Congress leader Siddaramaiah and wrote: "Dear @siddaramaiah avare - time for u (you) to hug Imranji n (and) Bajwaji - @sherryontopp! Thts (That's) quickest way to bcm (become) @RahulGandhi n (and) @priyankagandhi's favourite! #JustDoIt."

His jibe was aimed at Siddaramaiah's reverence for Tipu Sultan. The Congress leader had started the tradition of celebrating Tipu Jayanti as then chief minister of Karnataka three years ago.

Slamming Chandrasekhar, Siddaramaiah tweeted, "Mr @rajeev_mp, Think before you tweet. I am not like your Chor @narendramodi to eat biryani with the PM of our enemy country & also not like you to compromise on ethics to please your bosses. "It is better to lead a life of Tipu Sultan than like a slave of your bosses like you."

The Congress leader's attack was in reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise visit to Nawaz Sharif, the then prime minister of Pakistan, in Lahore in 2017.

Opposing Tipu Jayanti, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has held protests. The saffron party has been accusing the Congress of ignoring the "genocide" carried out by the erstwhile ruler of Mysuru, including the killings of Kodavas in Kodagu district and Mandyam Iyengars of Melukote.