Union Minister of State Anantkumar Hegde on Monday made personal comments with communal undertones against KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao during a Twitter war over the controversial statements he made in Kodagu on Sunday.
Responding to Mr. Kumar’s communally provocative statements, Mr. Rao tweeted that it was “deplorable that such people had become Ministers and MPs”. “What are your achievements after becoming a Union Minister or MP? What are your contributions for Karnataka’s development?” he asked.
The Union Minister responded by tweeting, “I shall definitely answer this guy’s queries, before which could he please reveal himself as to who he is along with his achievements? I only know him as a guy who ran behind a Muslim lady,” referring to Mr. Rao’s marriage to Tabu Rao. Mr. Rao replied, “Sad to see Anantkumar Hegde stoop to such low levels as to bring in personal issues. Guess it’s his lack of culture. Guess he hasn’t learnt from our Hindu scriptures. Time hasn’t run out, he can still try and become a more dignified human.”
Cheap politics, says Tabu
In her Facebook post, Ms. Rao said, “It appears I am a soft target for certain BJP leaders who are unable to politically take on my husband. After BJP MPs Pratap Simha and Shobha Kharandlaje, it is now the turn of Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde to drag me into a political slugfest, where I am nowhere involved. I have never made any personal remarks against any BJP leader and I strongly resent them using me as a pawn in their cheap politics. Such misogynistic and provocative remarks are highly unbecoming of a Union Minister.”
On the BJP targeting her for being a Muslim, she said, “Yes, I was born a Muslim, but we are proud Indians first. The Constitution of India, which is built on the foundation of secularism, guarantees every individual liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship.”
She said Mr. Hegde blocked her on Twitter when she tried to engage with him on the platform.
The Union Minister’s comment drew flak from the Congress. AICC president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “This man is an embarrassment to every Indian. He’s unfit to be a Union Minister and deserves to be sacked”.
The former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Mr. Kumar “should apologise and resign immediately for his insensitive comments”.