From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 13: Even as the Lok Sabha poll fever is yet to rise while the scorching summer has already set in in most parts of Karnataka, the war of words and trading of charges as well as counter charges among the ruling JD(S)-Congress coalition partners and the opposition BJP is gaining stridency.

With union minister Anant Kumar Hegde, the Uttara Kannada BJP leader, who has been hitting media headlines for his comments bordering on the abusive and even foul language, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has lodged a formal complaint against the union minister with the State Election Commission authorities demanding appropriate legal action forthwith.

KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao on Wednesday petitioned the Election Commission India to take appropriate legal action against union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde, Uttara Kannada MP, for making derogatory statement on Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s caste and violation of model code of conduct.

Hegde in a controversial speech on Monday had asked whether Gandhi would give a DNA proof to establish that he is a Brahmin.

Making the matter worse, the BJP leader had sarcastically remarked that Rahul Gandhi was the son of a Muslim father and a Christian mother and dubbed him as a "hybrid" person.

The KPCC President said the Hegde’s statement would not only offend the dignity and privacy of an individual but also incites the general public regarding the birth of Rahul Gandhi.

"This Muslim who calls himself a 'januedhari' Hindu. Is there any proof that he is a Hindu? This son of a Muslim, whose mother is a Christian, does he have any proof? I am not joking," Hegde, the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said at a function in Sirsi in Karnataka on March 9.

Rahul Gandhi to address rally at Kalaburagi on Mar 18

Meanwhille, Congress President Rahul Gandhi will address a public meeting in Kalaburagi, home turf of Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, on March 18.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already addressed the public meeting in Kalaburagi on March 6.

Rahul Gandhi is expected to focus the achievements of the Congress in the district and the Hyderabad-Karnataka region under Article 317(J) and is expected to lambast the BJP for its divisive politics.

Rahul Gandhi's public meeting has assumed significance as Umesh Jahav, Chincholi MLA of the Congress had quit the party and joined the BJP.

Jadhav is likely to be the BJP candidate against Kharge in the Kalaburagi constituency in the saffron party’s bid to defeat the senior Congress leader, who has never lost in the last 14 elections faced by him so far.