Shashi Tharoor praises Pak PM Imran Khan for Tipu Sultan tweet; irks controversy

Shashi Tharoor, Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP on Tuesday showered praise Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for remembering Tipu Sultan and his “genuine and far-reaching” interest in Indian history. Tharoor also added that he was ‘disappointed’ that it took Pakistani leader to remember Tipu Sultan.

Praising Imran Khan for his tweet on Tipu Sultan, Shashi Tharoor said, "One thing I personally know about Imran Khan is that his interest in the shared history of the Indian subcontinent is genuine and 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,” he added.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan on May 4 took Twitter to remember Tipu Sultan on his death anniversary. He has tweeted, "Today 4th May is the death anniversary of Tipu Sultan - a man I admire because he preferred freedom and died fighting for it rather than live a life of enslavement."

Soon after Tharoor praised Imran Khan, it irked controversy, with both BJP and the Congress leaders 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."

Responding to 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."

Siddaramaiah’s attack was in reference to PM Modi’s surprise visit to Nawaz Sharif, the then prime minister of Pakistan, in Lahore in 2017.

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