Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recently in Gandhinagar, where, while addressing hundreds of BJP workers, he said, "Congress has a special hatred for Gujarat and Gujaratis."
In the run-up to the upcoming Assembly elections in the state, Modi said that the polls would be a showdown between 'development' and 'dynastic politics'.
"Every time there is an election in Gujarat, Congress develops a fever... Gujarat is an eyesore for them," he said.
He even tweeted a video of the same:
The Congress Party has special hatred for Gujarat & Gujaratis! pic.twitter.com/JtwtvN4KRv
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 16, 2017
The tweet was noticed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and in his signature witty style, he replied to Modi saying he had nothing but love for Gujarat. Case in point? His son had just married a Gujarati woman, Tharoor said!
My son has just married a Gujarati, @narendramodi ji. We have nothing but love for your state &its people.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 16, 2017
Indeed, Tharoor's son Ishaan, a journalist with Washington Post, recently got married to Bhumika Dave of CNN USA.
People were quick to applaud the truce that Tharoor's response imbibed. Some tweeted pictures from the newlywed's ceremony. One user even pointed out that Ishaan and Bhumika were a combination of "Kerala, Bengal, Kashmir and Gujarat".
@narendramodi ji
— Jayasree Vijayan (@JayasreeVijayan) October 16, 2017
This couple @ishaantharoor & @iRecruitCNN is a combination of Kerala, Bengal, Kashmir and Gujarat !!
Blessed Couple ! pic.twitter.com/izkltw9w1x
Sirji @narendramodi @ishaantharoor and @iRecruitCNN bless them !! pic.twitter.com/vcT03pusXl
— Jayasree Vijayan (@JayasreeVijayan) October 16, 2017
— Jayasree Vijayan (@JayasreeVijayan) October 16, 2017
One user joked that the Tharoor family shouldn't marry in each state to prove their love for them.
I just hope he doesn't go about marrying in each state just to prove his love for the states..https://t.co/oIYmLz54iI
— Nitin Kapoor (@NitinKapoor2020) October 17, 2017
Not everyone was pleased though. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, instead, chose to raise questions about Tharoor's alleged involvement in his former wife Sunanda Pushkar's death.
GST says he loves Gujaratis because his son has married one. Gujaratis! Learn from Kashmiri Pandits & the fate of Sunanda marrying GST
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) October 17, 2017