Tiwari, who is JD(U) general secretary and spokesperson, said Bhagwat and Owaisi are "two sides of the same coin".
He was replying to a media query about Bhagwat's reported contention that women are bound by contract with their husbands to look after household.
"It is a primitive mindset. They are reviving the past. The philosophy of his (Bhagwat) organisation is that a lower caste person should be punished for sitting with a upper caste one and molten glass should be poured in his ears if he hears Sanskrit," Tiwari said.
Within hours, BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad deeply regretted the statement.
"We condemn the totally unwarranted, baseless, and undignified comments made by Tiwari against RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. His observations linking Bhagwat to Owaisi is not only reprehensible but highly condemnable," he said.
Lashing out at the JD(U) leader, Prasad maintained that RSS has done commendable work for the uplift of tribals, Dalits and women in various fields. He further said JD(U) should ask Tiwari to exercise restraint.
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BJP's Hindutva face Uma Bharti also criticised Tiwari, saying, "Only somebody who has lost his mind can compare the RSS chief and Owaisi. I pity such people."
RSS leader Indresh Kumar was also miffed at the JD(U) leader's remark. "Bhagwat is a patriot while Owaisi is a traitor who has justified terrorism and violence. The mental treatment of those who have made these comments is very necessary. They should get cured. I will pray that they get cured," Kumar said. (More)