Shashi Tharoor hits out at media reports for 'misinterpreting' his statement on 'good Hindus'

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has lashed out at media reports for 'misinterpreting' his stateement on 'good Hindus'.

Referring to the demolition of Babri Masjid, Tharoor said “no good Hindu” would want a Ram Temple to be built by “demolishing somebody else’s place of worship”. He had made the statements at a a literature festival in Chennai.

I was asked for my personal opinion at a literary festival & gave it as such. I am not a Spokesperson for my party & did not claim to be speaking for @incindia. https://t.co/aKeJvdLoqG

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 15, 2018

After media backlash, Tharoor said, "I condemn the malicious distortion of my words by some media in the service of political masters. I said: “most Hindus would want a temple at what they believe to be Ram’s birthplace. But no good Hindu would want it to be built by destroying another’s place of worship.”

Tharoor also clarified that it was his personal opinion, and not the voice of the party. "I was asked for my personal opinion at a literary festival & gave it as such. I am not a Spokesperson for my party & did not claim  to be speaking for @incindia."

At the event, Tharoor also expressed concerns over the undermining of religious institutions and conceded that the Congress was “ready to admit its mistakes”. “It is a party that imposed the Emergency that has become one of the best custodians of democracy,” he said.

Hitting out at Tharoor, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, “Is he demanding removal of the makeshift temple where pooja is performed daily in the tent? No one till now has made such a demand.”