Bengaluru: Discourse on women's modesty reached its lowest ebb, with union minister of state for Skill Development, Ananth Kumar Hegde Monday in his tweet describing Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundurao as 'a guy who ran behind a Muslim lady'.
The twitter war broke out between the duo when, Mr Gundurao tweeted in response to a news report about Mr Hegde courting controversy over his remarks that 'the hand that touches a Hindu girl's body should not be there" and asked him to show his contribution as an MP and minister in the state.
Mr Hegde hit back at Mr Gundurao with his twitter on the KPCC chief, who is married to a Muslim.
Seeing this comment, Mr Gundurao responded in a dignified manner stating that Sad to see "@AnantkumarH stoop to such low levels as to bring in personal issues. Guess its 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."
This set off a war of words with several Congress leaders including Congress president Rahul Gandhi standing by Mr Gundurao on Twitter.
Mr Gandhi slammed Mr Hegde for his controversial remarks about the Congress leader's wife, saying he is "unfit" to be a Union minister and deserves to be sacked.
Mr Gundurao's wife, Tabu Rao, who was the target of Mr. Hegde's remarks, posted a lengthy rebuttal on her timeline in Facebook, stating that these were "misogynistic" and "provocative" remarks made by Union minister Anant Kumar Hegde ". In a Facebook post, Ms Gundurao said she seemed to have become a "soft target" for Bharatiya Janata Party leaders who are "unable to politically take on" her husband.
Ms Gundurao added that Mr Hegde had dragged her "into political slugfest" even though she is a "private person" who does not hold any party or public position.
Lashing out at Mr Hegde for his remarks, she asserted, "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'."
