Bengaluru: In a big embarrassment to BJP, party leader, MLC, former minister AH Vishwanath who defected from JDS in 2019 to help BJP to form government in the state termed Tippu Sultan as the son of the soil.

“Tippu is the son of this soil. He is a great warrior. He doesn’t belong to any particular caste or religion. We must all respect him,” said Vishwanath.

“Students shall read from Tippu to Gandhiji,” he said.

His statement comes as a big embarrassment to BJP. Party general secretary Ravi Kumar termed Vishwanath’s statement wrong and misleading. “I suggest him to read the Tippu’s history before glorifying him,” he said.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders welcomed Vishwanath’s statement. Party leader Eshwar Khandre asked the BJP leaders to respect the truth.