Shashi Tharoor tweets about Sumitra Mahajan's 'death,' deletes later

Shashi Tharoor wrongly tweets about former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's demise, (Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday night tweeted that former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has passed away at 78. Soon after, BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya tweeted that Mahajan is "hale and hearty."

ताई एक दम स्वस्थ है । भगवान उन्हें लम्बी उमर दे । https://t.co/bQQMp9BqUv

— Kailash Vijayvargiya (@KailashOnline) April 22, 2021

Tharoor then deleted his tweet and put out a fresh one that read, "Thanks @kailashOnline. I have deleted my tweet. I wonder what motivates people to invent and spread such evil news that takes in people. My best wishes for Sumitra ji’s health and long life."

Thanks @kailashOnline. I have deleted my tweet. I wonder what motivates people to invent and spread such evil news that takes in people. My best wishes for Sumitra ji’s health and long life.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 22, 2021

Tharoor had said in a tweet: "Saddened to learn of the passing of former LokSabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. I remember many positive interactions with her, including when she &the late Sushma Swaraj asked me to lead a Parliamentary delegation to BRICS in Moscow. My condolences to her family &prayers: OmShanti!”

Shashi Tharoor wrongly tweets about Sumitra Mahajan's death

Tharoor's tweet soon went viral following which several journalists and political leaders like Supriya Sule and Sharad Pawar took to Twitter to express condolences.

Sharad Pawar wrongly tweets about Sumitra Mahajan's death

Reports earlier had claimed that she had complained of fever and was subsequently tested negative for COVID-19.