Tharoor, Varun Gandhi spar after Indian flag seen at Capitol siege

A war of words erupted between Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and his BJP colleague Varun Gandhi on Thursday after the Indian flag was seen fluttering amid a sea of banners during the violence unleashed by Donald Trump supporters at the US Capitol.

Why is there an Indian flag there??? This is one fight we definitely don’t need to participate in… pic.twitter.com/1dP2KtgHvf

— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) January 7, 2021

The exchange began with Varun Gandhi tweeting a video of the Indian flag being waved at the US Capitol, and him asking, “Why is there an Indian flag there??? This is one fight we definitely don’t need to participate in…”

In response, Tharoor quoted the tweet and said that “there are some Indians with the same mentality as the Trumpist mob.”

Unfortunately, @varungandhi80, there are some Indians with the same mentality as that Trumpist mob, who enjoy using the flag as a weapon rather than a badge of pride, & denounce all who disagree with them as anti-nationals & traitors. That flag there is a warning to all of us. https://t.co/uJIaDlLklt

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 7, 2021

“Unfortunately, @varungandhi80, there are some Indians with the same mentality as that Trumpist mob, who enjoy using the flag as a weapon rather than a badge of pride, & denounce all who disagree with them as anti-nationals & traitors. That flag there is a warning to all of us,” read the tweet by the Thiruvananthapuram Congress MP.

[2/2] Unfortunately, most liberals have flagrantly ignored warnings of its misuse in anti-national protests (e.g. in JNU) in India as well.

It is a symbol of pride for us, and we venerate it without due regard to any “mentality”. @ShashiTharoor

— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) January 7, 2021

To this, Gandhi replied, targetting the JNU protests, that most of the liberals have ignored warnings of its misuse in anti-national protests.

“These days, it’s become too easy to deride Indians for using our flag to showcase our pride in our country. At the same time, it’s also too easy to use the flag for nefarious purposes. Unfortunately, most liberals have flagrantly ignored warnings of its misuse in anti-national protests (eg in JNU) in India as well,” said the Pilbhit BJP MP.

“It is a symbol of pride for us, and we venerate it without due regard to any ‘mentality’,” said Gandhi.

Meanwhile, Vincent Xavier, the person who had reportedly waved the Indian flag at Capitol Hill on Wednesday, tweeted addressing both the leaders, and shared photos from the site.

@ShashiTharoor @varungandhi80
American patriots – Vietnamese, Indian, Korean & Iranian origins, & from so many other nations & races, who believe massive voter fraud has happened joined rally yesterday in solidarity with Trump. Peaceful protestors who were exercising our rights! pic.twitter.com/aeTojoVxQh

— Vinson Xavier (@VinsonPXavier) January 8, 2021

“American patriots – Vietnamese, Indian, Korean & Iranian origins, & from so many other nations & races, who believe massive voter fraud has happened joined rally yesterday in solidarity with Trump. Peaceful protestors who were exercising our rights!” his tweet read.

In a fresh twist, a new claim surfaced on social media, according to which Xavier, a Kerala native, was known to Tharoor and had recently met him in Washington DC.

Dear @ShashiTharoor, now that we know that this lunatic was such a dear friend of yours, one can only hope that you and your colleagues were not the silent 🤚 behind this mayhem. pic.twitter.com/bedkef7ZLc

— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) January 8, 2021

This gave fresh ammunition to Varun Gandhi, who asked, “Dear @ShashiTharoor, now that we know that this lunatic was such a dear friend of yours, one can only hope that you and your colleagues were not the silent behind this mayhem.”

Related news | In pictures: Highlights of the US Capitol violence