BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday criticised Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s remarks against Panditharadya Shivacharya Swami.

“It was unfortunate and unwarranted. Such derogatory remarks from you on the first day of you becoming chief minister are both surprising and shocking,” Yeddyurappa said in a statement.

Yeddyurappa said Kumaraswamy suggesting swamis should not “poke their nose” in politics is an insult to all heads of mutts across Karnataka.