Addressing a group of students in JNU last night, Shashi Tharoor, while listing the names of victims of sedition law under British rule had said Bhagat Singh was the Kanhaiya Kumar of his time.
Congress today virtually disapproved of party leader
Shashi Tharoor comparing JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar, facing sedition charges, with Bhagat Singh.
"There has been only one Bhagat Singh. There is only one Bhagat Singh", party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters when asked about Mr Tharoor's remarks which has sparked a controversy.
BJP has accused Mr Tharoor, a former Union minister, of insulting the legendary freedom fighter.
Addressing a group of students in JNU last night, Mr Tharoor, while listing the names of victims of sedition law under British rule had said Bhagat Singh was the Kanhaiya Kumar of his time.
"The biggest victims of sedition law under the British rule were Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Annie Besant," he said.
When a girl mentioned the name of Bhagat Singh, prompt came the remark that "Bhagat Singh was the Kanhaiya Kumar of his time."
The
BJP took strong exception to Mr Tharoor's comment saying it was an insult to the "great freedom fighter" as well as all patriots of the country.
"Bhagat Singh went to the gallows chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' while fighting for the country's independence. Comparing Kanhaiya Kumar with Bhagat Singh is an insult to the freedom fighter and all the patriots. Shashi Tharoor should tell if Kanhaiya is Bhagat Singh, then what are Rahul and Sonia Gandhi," BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain said.
Mr Tharoor on his part clarified that he did not intend to equate Mr Kumar with the freedom fighter.