The federally-governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed Trinamool Congress (TMC) politician Kirti Azad, who decided to mock Prime Minister Narendra Modi's outfit during his visit to the northeastern state of Meghalaya.
Sharing a picture of Modi wearing traditional attire of the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya, Azad tweeted in Hindi: “Neither male nor female, only a worshipper of fashion.”
But he did not stop there: the former cricketer-turned-politician also attached a screenshot of a female model from an online shopping website dressed in a similar outfit.
Reacting to Azad's tweet, the BJP's national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Thursday criticized the TMC party for going to the extent of disrespecting the traditional attire worn by tribals along with the northeastern region of India.
Assam state chief Himanta Biswa Sarma also condemned Azad's tweet, as he said he was saddened to see a prominent leader "mocking" the culture of Meghalaya and asked TMC to clarify whether it supports the views of its politician.
Azad, however, defended his remarks, claiming he did not mean to disrespect the prime minister, but actually showed admiration for his "fashion statement."
Notably, Modi was in Meghalaya on December 18 to address a meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC) held to mark the golden jubilee celebration of the body.
The Indian prime minister is known globally for his frequent choice of traditional attire of the places that he regularly visits.