New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that the Hindutva is like a British football-team hooligan who says "this is my team and if you support another team, I will hit you." He was launching his book 'Pride, Prejudice and Punditry: The Essential Shashi Tharoor' in New Delhi,
He added that Hinduism is different from Hindutva because it is a religion of diversity, pluralism, tolerance and philosophy of doubt, inquiry and questioning, reported The Indian Express.
He also criticised the BJP government by saying that it has forgotten the key lesson of inclusivity and that it was a flaw of the parliamentary system that "creates an opportunity for those who are divisive".
He said that when you become the head of the government or country, you have to represent all the people. But BJP only represents narrow political interests. He added that you (BJP) are not doing good for the country if the five years or longer in power are spent in the relentless pursuit of a particular ideology.
The new book is a collection of Tharoor's best works from his 22 books, published articles, and speeches. It includes his fiction work, non-fiction writing, poetry, and the famous Oxford Union speech. There are 10 sections that divide his writings into modern Indian historical figures, the country's political scenario, international relations, cricket, his connection with Kerala, and musings on literature.
Tharoor was speaking to publisher and novelist David Davidar, the Thiruvananthapuram MP and recalled that he was confined to his room as a child due to asthma. He added that his father encouraged him to read and write.
He also commented on Pakistan Parliament's decision to allow Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav the right to appeal against his death sentence passed in 2017. Tharoor observed India approaching the International Court of Justice was the right thing to do. He added that Pakistan will shame itself if Jadhav is not given a genuinely fair trial.