Shashi Tharoor echoes Kerala CM's 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' remark: 'India's history more complicated than...'

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Congress MP said that the slogan 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' was given by the Muslim aide of a Hindu Peshwa. “That's the way our country used to work," he added. "'Bharat Mata ki Jai' goes back to the Muslim aide of a Hindu Peshwa.

We were not always drawing distinctions on the basis of religion," he added. Arguing against reducing historical events to binary divisions based on religion, Tharoor urged for a more nuanced understanding of India's rich and diverse heritage. “When you think of something like the Battle of Haldighati, who was fighting for the Maharana? Hakim Khan Sur, a Muslim general.

Who was fighting for the Mughal Emperor? It was a Rajput King," he said. "You have to understand that our history is much more complicated than the black-and-white versions that someone in the BJP or Hindutva movement would like you to believe," Tharoor added. On the Citizenship Amendment Act, Tharoor said it was an attempt to corner the Muslim vote, while emphasising that Muslims are educated and they would know what is going on.

"I think it is very clear that they are making a brazen attempt to try and corner the Muslim vote. Muslims are educated like everybody else. They will know what is going on," he said.

The Centre on March 11 notified the rules for the CAA bringing the act into force. Earlier this week, Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala, said that "Bharat mata ki Jai" and "Jai Hind" were originally coined by two Muslims. He also challenged the BJP to renounce them.

"Now, in some programmes we hear some Sangh Parivar leaders asking people to chant 'Bharat mata ki Jai'. Who coined the slogan Bharat mata ki jai? Was it some Sangh Parivar leader? I don't know if the Sangh Parivar knows this. His name is Azimullah