New Delhi: Reacting to BJP general secretary Ram Madhav's remarks against Vice President Hamid Ansari for not showing up at International Yoga Day event, Congress on Sunday condemned his remarks, while also demanding public apology from him and his party's president Amit Shah.
Condemning Madhav for his remarks, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh took to Twitter and called his remarks 'uncharitable'.
“Condemn Ram Madhav's uncharitable remarks against vice president without knowing facts. He and BJP president should publicly apologise,” he tweeted.
Condemn Ram Madhav's uncharitable remarks against Vice President without knowing facts. He and BJP President should publicly apologize.
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) June 21, 2015
Later, another prominent Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, while hinting at Madhav's remarks, wrote on Twitter: “Why is participation in Yoga Day being made an acid test of patriotism? Surely yoga's about peace and harmony?”
Why is participation in Yoga Day being made an acid test of patriotism? Surely yoga's about peace & harmony? http://t.co/Ep3YHJopNS
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 21, 2015
Ram Madhav on Sunday stoked a controversy by questioning Vice President Hamid Ansari's absence at the Yoga Day event in the capital but later apologised after he was criticised on the social media platform.
In his first tweet, Madhav said, "Two questions. Did RS TV dat runs on tax payers money completely black out Yoga Day event? While President participated d VP gave a miss (sic)."
Madhav later apologised in another. "I am informed dat d VP was unwell. I withdrew my tweet. My apologies because d institution of VP deserves respect (sic)," he said in another tweet. As the topic trended, he subsequently deleted both the tweets.
Later, VP Ansari’s office issued a statement that he was not invited to the Yoga Day event in the capital.
“Vice President was not sick. He was never invited for the yoga programme. The Vice President only attends those programmes in which the Minister concerned invites him as per protocol,” said his office statement.
(With Agency inputs)
