New Delhi: The Election Commission is contemplating action against union minister Anant Kumar Hegde for his remarks calling Congress President Rahul Gandhi a “hybrid born to a Muslim and a Christian”.
The commission has already asked for a video recording of Hegde’s controversial remarks, which he made at a rally in Uttara Kannada Sunday, to ascertain if they were made after the model code of conduct had kicked in.
The model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections came into force at around 5 pm Sunday.
#WATCH: Union Minister Ananth Hegde says on Rahul Gandhi, "They want proof of surgical strikes even when whole world acknowledged it. This Muslim who calls himself a 'janeudhari Hindu', son of a Muslim father & a Christian mother, does he have proof that he is a Hindu"? (10.3.19) pic.twitter.com/FWXFky5jXH
— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2019
“If the statement was made before the MCC kicked in, there is little that the commission can do since it will not amount to violation of model code of conduct,” a senior EC official told ThePrint on condition of anonymity.
“But if the statement was made after the MCC kicked in, we can take action, and that is what we are trying to establish now.”
The Karnataka chief electoral officer (CEO) has also been asked for his inputs.
Also read: With Rahul Gandhi ‘hybrid’ remark, BJP’s Anant Hegde continues to play chief rabble-rouser
A routine offender
Hegde’s remarks against Gandhi came at a public meeting in his Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha constituency when he hit out at Congress leaders who he claimed were questioning the authenticity of the Balakot air strikes.
“Look at the pitiful situation they (Congress) have brought us to,” Hegde said. The whole world is praising our soldiers for their courage and bravery and this man (referring to Rahul Gandhi) wants proof of the damage caused in the attack (the Balakot airstrike),” Hegde said.
“How did the son of a Muslim become a Brahmin named Gandhi? This pardesi (referring to Rahul Gandhi) was born to a Muslim and a Christian,” he said. “How does he become a Brahmin? Can he provide DNA proof?”
Also read: Anantkumar Hegde unfit to be minister, deserves to be sacked: Rahul Gandhi
A routine offender, Kumar has betrayed his Islamophobia several times over.
In January, he attacked Karnataka Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao, who had questioned Hegde’s contributions to Karnataka, for having married a Muslim woman.
“I shall definitely answer this guy Dinesh Gundu Rao’s queries, before which could he please reveal himself as to who he is along with his achievements?” Hegde had said. “I only know him as a guy who ran behind a Muslim lady.”
Distasteful. Best ignored, not given the oxygen of publicity, by the remarks being played in a loop on TV. Same gentleman who promised to rewrite the Constitution.