After Rahul Gandhi's temple run in Karnataka, Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde calls him a 'Khota Hindutvawadi'

Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde on Thursday took a jibe at Congress President Rahul Gandhi and called him a 'Khota Hindutvawadi' (Fake Hindu).

Hegde's statement comes in the backdrop of Rahul's visit to temples in Karnataka ahead of the assembly elections.

"For the past 60-70 years the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been campaigning to make people realize their Hindu origins; at least Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi now get it, but you need to practice it and not just say you are a Hindu," Hegde told news agency.

"Otherwise, you are 'Khota Hindutvawadi", he added.

Earlier in the week, Congress President had concluded his four-day tour in north Karnataka districts in the first leg of his campaign in the poll-bound state, during which he visited temples, mutts, and Dargahs.

He will begin his second phase of the tour in the state from February 24.

Rahul stopped in the heart of Kanakagiri in Koppal district and visited Kanakachala Laxmi-Narasimha temple to pay obeisance to the deities on Sunday.

After launching the party's campaign at Ballari on Sunday, Gandhi had visited Goddess Huligamma temple in Koppal district, a famous temple in the region.

He also had visited Gavi Siddheshwara Mutt in Koppal, a mutt of the majority Lingayat community.

The Karnataka BJP has mocked at Gandhi's temple visits, calling him an "election-time Hindu".