Padmavati Row: Smriti Irani mocks Shashi Tharoor's 'maharaja' remark, hails bravery of Rajputs in Indian history

Union minister Smriti Irani took a dig at Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for his reported 'maharaja' comments amidst the ongoing row over Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama 'Padmavati'.

Tharoor, on Thursday, reportedly said that the "so called valourous maharajas" had scurried to accommodate themselves when the British "trampled" over their honour and were now after a filmmaker, claiming that their prestige is at stake.

Reacting to Tharoor's remarks, Irani on Friday tweeted,"Did all the Maharajs (kings) kneel in front of the British? What will Jyotiraditya Scindia, Diggi Raja (Digvijaya Singh) and Amarinder Singh say on Shashi Tharoor's comments?"

Congress leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia, Digvijay Singh and Amarinder Singh hail from royal families. Tharoor on Thursday had taken to Twitter to clarify his statement, "I'm dismayed that some BJP supporters are claiming I attacked Rajput honour...I spoke about the Maharajas who made their accommodations with the British. I have never made a communal comment in my life."

With regards to the Rajput community, he said people's sentiments must be respected in the interest of India's diversity and harmony."Rajput valour is part of our history and is not in question. BJP and its censors should take these concerns into account," Tharoor said.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama 'Padmavati' is witnessing protests with some groups alleging that it tampered with historical facts.