Bengaluru, November 19: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had landed in a controversy for a remark on a woman protester, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing him of insulting all women of the state. "Thayi (mother), where were you sleeping for the last four years?" said Kumaraswamy on Sunday when the protester criticised him strongly. She was among hundreds of sugarcane farmers who have been protesting for a hike in the minimum purchase price for sugarcane.

The chief minister also said it was not farmers who were protesting but some motivated groups. Kumaraswamy's reaction did not go well with the BJP. "An opportunist CM would never respect the citizens & this is exactly what CM Kumaraswamy is doing. Asking a women where she was sleeping for last 4 years clearly shows the individuality of Kumaraswamy. (sic)" reads a tweet from BJP Karnataka. "This is beyond apologising, this is a shame & insult to women of the state," it adds. Kumaraswamy Breaks Down Again, Says 'I Might Not Live For Very Long'.

Former chief minister and BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa also demanded an apology from Kumaraswamy for his 'foolishness'. "Yesterday, the chief minister's statement against that lady and also the farmers... these type of words, never in the history of Karnataka has a chief minister uttered such words. It is foolishness. And I demand that the chief minister immediately apologise," Yeddyurappa told a news channel. Kumaraswamy Breaks Into Tears; Says, 'Only He Knows The Pain Of Coalition Government': Watch Video.

After facing flak, Kumaraswamy clarified over his statement. "What I meant was, "why have you woken up to that situation now? Were you sleeping?' I would never disrespect a woman. These are not farmers who are agitating but these are sponsored protests," the chief minister said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 19, 2018 10:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).