Hubballi, Dec 25 (Agencies): Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday December 25 hit back at union minister Anant Kumar Hegde for suggesting that BJP would 'change' the Constitution and that secularists had 'no pedigree'.

The CM in his strong response called the BJP MP 'uncultured'.

"Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde is uncultured. He doesn't know parliamentary or politically-correct language. He is unaware of the country's social systems, and has no respect for the Constitution," the CM said.

The CM was speaking at the Congress rally in Hubballi.

"People of various religions live India, but Hegde is opposed to secularism. He speaks anti-secular language. It is impossible to turn a secular country like India into a Hindu Rashtra," Siddaramaiah said.

"The Constutition was drafted and adopted long before Hegde was born, and the entire country has accepted it. All religions in India have equal rights and opportunities. The union minister does not have such basic knowledge," the CM said.

Lingayat issue

When asked about the opposition to the expert panel constituted to look into Lingayat issue, the chief minister clarified that he had not formed the panel, but the minority commission formed the committee after five petitions related to the issue received by the government were handed over to it.

"We are not dividing religion, we follow Basavanna and believe in humanitarian values. Let the Panchacharyas clarify whether they are in favour of Basavanna or not," he said.

BJP reaction

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar said Hegde's statement was misinterpreted.

"He spoke about the need for bringing amendments to the Constitution in tune with the changing times and not about changing the basic structure of the Constitution," Shettar said.

MP Pralhad Joshi said there was no question of changing the Constitution as Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had said our Constitution was great and supreme.

With DHNS Inputs