Prime minister downplays Tharoor comments

Prime minister Manmohan Singh today sought to downplay the comments of minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor on austerity on 'Twitter' saying "it was a joke".

Asked about the controversy surrounding the "cattle class" remarks of Tharoor regarding the economy class travel by ministers in furtherance of government's austerity measures, he said, "it was a joke".

The prime minister was speaking to reporters at an Iftar party hosted by him, which was attended by vice president Hamid Ansari, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, BJP leader LK Advani, Singh's cabinet colleagues and members of the diplomatic corps among others.

Rahul Gandhi refused to comment on Shashi Tharoor controversy, saying whatever had to be said has been said by the party.