Bakhtiar Ali, one of the sixth-generation descendants of Prince Mooniruddin, who was one of Tipu's sons, told PTI in Kolkata that the minister's comments were "baseless and shameful".
"Such derogatory remarks are unacceptable. He is making such cheap comments for his own political gains. We are consulting lawyers and will seek legal action against him. We might file defamation suit against him," Bakhtiar Ali said.
Asked whether they would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against Hedge, Ali said, "No, we have no such plans to write to the Prime Minister."
In Bengaluru, Sahabzada MansoorAli Tipu, who presents himself as a 7th generation descendant of Tipu Sultan, said he would seek necessary action for Hegde's "uncalled for" comments.
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He said he would meet Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy tomorrow in this regard.
"On behalf of the descendants of Tipu Sultan, I am lodging a complaint against Hegde for calling ourforefather a mass rapist and brutal killer," he told PTI.
"Being a Union minister, he should not have made such
Alleging that Hegde's comments could stoke "communal sentiments", he demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi drop him from his council of ministers.
"The tweets of Hegde are distasteful and hurt not only family sentiments, but also the sentiments of the country. Modi should sack him as Union minister," he said.
In 2016, Hegde had flayed the state government for celebrating Tipu Jayanti despite opposition from some sections of the society living in coastal belts of Karnataka and Kodagu areas, claiming that the ruler was "against Kannada language and anti-Hindu".