Bengaluru, January 30: Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde on Wednesday fired fresh salvo against Congress president Rahul Gandhi, calling him a "hybrid specimen". The crass remark had communal undertones, as the BJP MP questioned the religious identities of his father and later ex-prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi.

While addressing a public meeting in Karnataka's Karwar, Hegde accused the Gandhi scion of "lying" to the masses that he is a Brahmin. To validate his claim, Hegde alleged the Rajiv Gandhi was a "Muslim", whereas Sonia is a Christian. Hegde Unfit to Remain Union Minister, Must Be Sacked: Rahul Gandhi.

"He (Rahul Gandhi) does not know this country. He has no clue about religion. Look how they lie. A father who is a Muslim, a mother who is a Christian and the son is supposed to be a Brahmin. How is that even possible," Hegde questioned.

"You will not find such a hybrid specimen in any laboratory across the world. You'll find such specimen in Congress laboratory in this country, where the father and the son are of two different types," he said in a deeply personal attack.

Hegde remained unrelenting in his verbal assault, adding that after the Lok Sabha elections 2019, "they" -- which he apparently referred to as the Gandhi family -- will leave the country.

In two or three months, he added, "they will all go into their homes. Rahul Gandhi will probably go to Columbia."

The remarks of the BJP lawmaker came days after he targeted Karnataka Congress unit chief Dinesh Gundu Rao with a derogatory remark over his wife.

On being asked by Rao over Twitter what Hegde's achievement has been as the Union MoS for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Hegde replied, "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."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 30, 2019 11:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).