01:3701:3701:37Shashi Tharoor vs Narendra Modi: Battle over headgear

Shashi Tharoor insults the proud cultural heritage of the people of North-East. This condescension & arrogance tow… https://t.co/VVwDSMMPhL — Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) 1533556318000

Dear Rajyavardhan, you know better: I was obviously referring to the ceremonial headdress offered to visiting digni… https://t.co/g8PQYeQYCx — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) 1533558823000

NEW DELHI: Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore on Monday kicked off a Twitter feud with Shashi Tharoor after the Congress leader, questioning PM Narendra Modi’s refusal to accept the skull cap, used words such as “outlandish” and “hilarious” to describe the headgear from the northeast region."Shashi Tharoor insults the proud cultural heritage of the people of the northeast," Rathore wrote as he tweeted a video of Tharoor. Apart from Rathore, several other ministers in the Union government, too, accused Tharoor of hurting the sentiments of the people.Later in the day, Tharoor slammed the ruling party of using "tactics" to deflect attention from "irrefutable criticism"."The cynicism of the BJP is as impressive as their tactics. When confronted with an irrefutable criticism, they seize on an irrelevant detail, manufacture a fake controversy with the help of an obliging media, and change the narrative so it is about the detail and not the original critique!" he tweeted.In the video, tweeted by Rathore, the Congress MP can be seen questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's "reluctance" to wear the Muslim skull cap while having "no objection" in wearing other headgear."Why does our Prime Minister who wears all sorts of outlandish headgear wherever he goes around the country, around the world ... why does he always refuse to wear a Muslim skull cap?""You've seen in him hilarious ... Naga headdress with feathers and you have seen him in various kinds of extraordinary outfits. Which is a right thing for a PM to do. Indira Gandhi has also been photographed wearing various kinds of costumes ...," Tharoor can be heard in the video tweeted by Rathore.Rathore interpreted Tharoor's speech as "condescension and arrogance" towards the people of India.Later, Tharoor responded to Rathore by saying that the latter is trying to “sidestep” the point which he had raised in his speech, i.e. why does PM avoids just one type of headgear. The Congress leader also tweeted an image of PM Modi wearing a traditional headgear during a rally in Arunachal Pradesh.Tharoor's explanation of Naga headgear did not bode will BJP national secretary Ram Madhav as well. Madhav termed Tharoor's remark "shocking and condemnable"."Shocking and condemnable he's making such irresponsible statements on Indian cultures and traditions. He should learn to respect all customs," Madhav told news agency ANI.Union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju demanded an apology from Tharoor. "Congress should immediately apologise for Shashi Tharoor's remark. It's a part of our tradition and is our cultural identity," he said.