Intellectuals can't differentiate between living beings, dead bodies: Ananth Kumar

Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde hit out at secular intellectuals, saying the latter does not have an understanding of the difference between a living human being and a dead body.

"So-called intellectuals don't understand 'antar atma' (inner self). For them, there is no difference between a living human and dead bodies, as both have the same body parts. These people think fulfilling the needs of the human body is what life is all about," Hegde said at an event here as part of the 'Skill on Wheels' initiative.

Hegde is known for making headlines through his controversial statements.

Last month, the five-time Lok Sabha member from Uttara Kannada took a dig at the opposition parties by comparing them to 'crows, monkeys and foxes'.

Addressing a gathering in Karnataka's Karwar district, the BJP leader, meanwhile, referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'tiger'.

"On one side crows, monkeys, foxes and others have come together; while on the other side we have a tiger. In 2019, choose to elect the tiger," he said.

Hegde had also termed Congress president Rahul Gandhi as a 'fake Hindu' during a rally ahead of the assembly polls in Karnataka.