Remarks against Rahul Gandhi: Poll panel seeks video footage of Ananth Hegde meet

“They want proof it seems (of the airstrikes in Pakistan). They want proof of what the soldiers have done. Can this son of a Muslim give proof that he is a Brahmin as he claims? His father is a Muslim and mother is a Christian, how did he become a Brahmin? Can he provide any proof?” Hegde was quoted as saying.

READ | Caste, religion: The jarring vocabulary of Anantkumar Hegde

Hegde has repeatedly questioned Rahul’s claims of being a Brahmin over the past few months. In January, he had said that Rahul cannot be a Brahmin or a Hindu since his father was a Muslim (in an apparent reference to Rajiv Gandhi’s father Feroze Gandhi).

READ | Ananth Kumar Hegde targets Rahul Gandhi again: ‘Can son of Muslim give proof he is Brahmin?’

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which is enforced from the date of announcement of elections till the last date of polling, prohibits political parties and candidates from directly attacking their competitors. In fact, it expects parties and their leaders to not attack their opponents personally and limit their criticism to policies and programmes.

Although Hegde’s statement on Gandhi is a violation of the above provision of the MCC, the question before the Commission will be whether it can initiate action for a remark made a day before the Code kicked in.