Dinesh Gundu Rao | Photo Credit: ANI

Bengaluru: ​After facing backlash over calling Uttar Pradesh chief Yogi Adityanath 'dhongi' (fake) and stating that he should be "shown slippers" should he enter into Karnataka, Karnataka Congress' Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao on Sunday expressed "regret" for his choice of words, adding that it was an "emotional outburst" in the context of the Kathua and Unnao rape. Speaking to news agency ANI, Rao clarified on his remarks, saying, "Father of Unnao victim has died, the girl is threatening to immolate herself. What kind of governance is this? I, however, regret the kind of words I used for him (UP CM). This is an emotional and sensitive issue for me."

On Saturday, while attending a candle-light march demanding justice for the Kathua and Unnao rape cases, Rao had told the public gathering, PM Modi should sack Yogi Adityanath as he is not a Yogi but a ' dhongi ' (fake)." Ratcheting up his attack, the Karnataka Congress Working President further added, "If he comes next time to Karnataka, he should be beaten with your sandals. Drive him out." Later, while speaking to news agency ANI, Rao had said, "Mr.Adityanath is a disgrace to Indian politics, he is unfit to be CM of Uttar Pradesh, if he had any decency he would have resigned by now."

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party reportedly plans to approach the Election Commission to lodge a complaint against the Congress for allegedly "attempting to incite violence" against Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. The Bharatiya Janata Party lambasted Rao for his choice of words, with the saffron party leader and former chief minister of the state Yeddyurappa demanding an apology from him. Taking to Twitter, the BJP's leader said, "Dinesh Gundu Rao's choice of words to address Yogi Adityanath ji has appalled me. Utter disrespect to a CM & a revered Natha family saint. The millions of Natha Panth followers of Karnataka will never forgive this. I sympathize with you and your party’s culture."

BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya also took to Twitter to lash out at Rao, claiming that his remarks were indicative of the Congress' "hate for Hindus". He tweeted, "Congress party’s hate for Hindus knows no limit... Yogi Adityanath ji is on their hate list not because he is a tough administrator but because he is an uncompromising, unapologetic Hindu."

Elections in Karnataka are scheduled to take place on May 12 and the counting of votes will be on May 15. The brutal and horrific gangrape of an eight-year-old child in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district and the rape of a minor girl allegedly by a BJP MLA in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district has triggered massive outrage in the country, with people organizing street protests and candle marches to demand justice for the victims.