Anant Kumar Hegde drags Dinesh Gundu Rao's 'Muslim' wife into an unseemly Twitter squabble

On Monday, Rao said "It's very sad that he (Hegde) talks like this. It's a very sad reflection on the type of people who hold top positions in this government. He always uses provocative language. That's probably what his party asks him to do."

Bengaluru: Union skill development minister Ananth Kumar Hegde and Karnataka state Congress president Dinesh Gundurao have locked horns on Twitter and their curt replies are totally unsavoury. The bitter exchange between the two leaders spurred after the political crisis in Karnataka has temporarily come to a standstill. Hegde, a five-time BJP MP from Uttara Kannada on Sunday asked people to “maim hands of those who touch Hindu women.” He also said that Taj Mahal was not built by Muslims and history was actual proof of this claim. Deploring and condemning his statements, Gundurao questioned Hegde’s contribution to Karnataka and his achievements as a minister. Hegde retorted saying that the state Congress chief's only achievement was running behind a Muslim lady, an oblique reference to his wife Tabu Rao. Gundurao said Hegde had stooped to such low levels by bringing in personal issues. “Guess he hasn’t learnt from our Hindu scriptures.” Political opponents in the state have often dragged Tabu’s name to attack Gundurao and their inter-religious marriage. "Yes, I was born a Muslim, but we are proud Indians first...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, she said in a Facebook post.

I shall definitely answer this guy @dineshgrao'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. https://t.co/8hVJ2wQXMU

— Anantkumar Hegde (@AnantkumarH) January 27, 2019

On Monday, Rao told news agency ANI, "It's very sad that he (Hegde) talks like this. It's a very sad reflection on the type of people who hold top positions in this government. He always uses provocative language. That's probably what his party asks him to do."

Sad to see @AnantkumarH 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. https://t.co/AaX5OuUAVb

— Dinesh Gundu Rao (@dineshgrao) January 28, 2019

Congress leader Sanjay Jha also seized the opportunity requesting people to vote the BJP out.

The #BJP for you. Dear Fellow Indians, let’s resolve to vote them out. #BJP_भगाओ_देश_बचाओ https://t.co/PoCQCyBmPB

— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) January 28, 2019