Shashi Tharoor finds Lok Sabha 'attractive' with women MPs, called out for 'sexism'; Cong MP apologises

Tharoor was accused of sexism after he tweeted a picture with women MPs Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)'s Supriya Sule, Congress' Preneet Kaur and Jothimani, DMK's Dr.Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s Mimi Chakraborty and Nusrat Jahan.

The selfie was clicked by Chakraborty.

"Who says the Lok Sabha isn’t an attractive place to work? With six of my fellow MPs this morning: ..." the Thiruvananthapuram MP tweeted.

Taking offence, one Abhishek said, "Remember that Shashi Tharoor is the most suave face of Indian liberalism. And he thinks it is okay for a 65 year old man to indicate that female colleagues make the workplace "attractive" No feminist will criticize this blatant sexism/misogyny. That is liberal privilege."

Another user said jokingly, "With this subtle sexism, @ShashiTharoor ji should be roped in by @SeagramsEscapes for #menwillbemen advertisements."

One Smriti tweeted, "Wah! @ShashiTharoor your casual sexism is so inspiring for women of this country. Very representative. True leadership. Inko UN bhejo bhai koi women's rights pe charcha karne ko!"

Facing backlash, Tharoor took to Twitter to clarify the post and issue an apology for offending a section of Twitterati.

He tweeted, "The whole selfie thing was done (at the women MPs' initiative) in great good humour & it was they who asked me to tweet it in the same spirit. I am sorry some people are offended but i was happy to be roped in to this show of workplace camaraderie. That's all this is."