Congress President Rahul Gandhi has been quoted as saying that Tipu Sultan was a symbol of communal harmony. This kicked up a major row in the state with the BJP alleging this is nothing but vote-bank politics.

Gandhi's remark was in response to the Mysore rulers association with the Sringeri mutt.

He was visiting the Sringeri Sharadamba Peeta and was apparently impressed when he heard how Tipu came to the rescue of the temple when they were attacked.

Reacting sharply to Rahul Gandhi's take on Tipu Sultan, senior BJP leader and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar told Mail Today, "Tipu Sultan had a very controversial history and as a historical personality, he is dus and demolition of temples.

Having known that controversial historical character of Tipu Sultan, Rahul Gandhi still quoting him (Tipu Sultan) as the icon of communal harmony exhibits the ignorance of history by the Congress president."

The Union Minister slammed the Congress in Karnataka under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying, Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi are indulging in vote bank politics. Kumar said, "by observing Tipu Sultan jayanti, Siddaramaiah and congress have shown how the four and a half years under them are reminders of Tughlak Raj."

In the same vein of vote bank politics pursued by the Congress in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah can very well go and celebrate Tughlak Utsav also.

In the backdrop of the polls fever picking up in Karnataka, the latest Tipu Sultan controversy is set to add more fire to BJP and Congress political campaigns.

Dinesh Gundurao, working president, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) was nonchalant when asked to respond to these allegations.

"Who protected the Sringeri mutt? Who All his ministers were from the Hindu community, so why all this noise?" he posed.

He also wanted to know if the Marathas could be considered as anti-Hindu since they were the ones who attacked the Sringeri mutt. "They cannot be called anti-Hindu, so let us not paint everything with the same brush," he opined.

ALSO WATCH | Rahul Gandhi visits Sringeri temple during his two day Karnataka visit