External Affairs minister faces sacking for 'holy cow' remark

By Iftikhar Gilani

NEW DELHI: Shashi Tharoor appears all set to get the boot for "our holy cow" humour, not only from the government as the minister of state for external affairs but perhaps also from the Congress that he joined barely six months ago. Even though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attempted to play down his comments saying, it was a 'joke', Tharoor's remark has left ruling party leaders seething with anger.
Although Tharoor apologised for his comments on his Twitter account on Thursday, it seems his apology has not made much of a difference.

Action:
Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari made it clear that the 53-year-old London born minister would face 'action'. Replying to questions at the All Indian Congress Committee press briefing, Tiwari said, "Appropriate action would definitely be taken at an appropriate time."
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's asking Tharoor to resign as minister was 'natural', as what he (Tharoor) did was "bound to have such a reaction," Tiwari asserted when asked to comment.
Tharoor's caused the furore when he promptly replied to a loaded question on Twitter by a pro-Bharatiya Janata Party journalist, asking him whether he would travel "cattle class" to Kerala that elected him to Parliament.
Tharoor, justifying his comments on Twitter, said he did not use the phrase "cattle class" but only repeated what the journalist wrote.
"It's a silly expression but means no disrespect to economy class travellers, only to airlines for herding us in like cattle," he wrote on his Twitter account.
Congress leaders insist that his Twitter dig at austerity is no humour but rather sarcasm at the party leadership cutting down wasteful expenditures in view of a difficult drought year.
In response to his remark being seen by Congress leaders as a veiled attack on Rahul Gandhi, Tharoor writes, "Holy cows are not individuals but sacrosanct issues or principles that no one dares to challenge. I wish critics would look it up."
In another tweet, Tharoor said he had been told his remark sounded worst in Malayalam when said out of context. "I now realise I shouldn't assume people will appreciate humour. And, you shouldn't give those who would wilfully distort your words an opportunity to do so," he added. Link...