Bengaluru Jan 17 (DHNS): The Congress on Wednesday mounted an attack on Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde over his remarks on writers.

Hegde faced flak especially for his take on Jnanpith awardee, Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, whose ideas he seemingly mocked without naming him at a Skill India event in Belagavi. He mocked the philosophy of "be a human first..." that is often attributed to Kuvempu. Hegde also went on to say that some people wore the title of 'writer' to get sites allotted by the government, while their writings made no sense.

"These are not Hegde's words, but a reflection of the BJP's agenda. He has already apologised once in the Lok Sabha for a bad statement. He should understand that his position carries some dignity," AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal said.

Ananth Kumar Hegde

Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader said mocking Kuvempu's Vishwa Manava philosophy was "an insult to all Kannadigas." Khader said Hegde was alright before he became a union minister.

"He is talking this way after he became a union minister. The prime minister should talk some sense into him," he said.