Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda used unparliamentary language on Sunday to make a personal attack against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who hit back at the JD(S) supremo saying he has "lost his mental balance."

Gowda's remarks targeting the BJP leader came over the controversial Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Project, promoted by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise during a farmers stir against NICE at Hemmigepura village near Bangalore, in which he is taking part, "to demand justice" for them.

"Who is this Yeddyurappa? Bas...d. Who the hell does Yeddyurappa think he is? Does he have any shame. This is the man who hid behind Shobha Karandlaje to save himself. He said he will resign from BJP and join JD(S) to become a minister. What is this non-sense," a fuming Gowda pouring vitriol on the chief minister said.

Karandlaje, who is considered close to the chief minister, resigned at the peak of the crisis in the BJP government late last year.

"He can go to any extent for the sake of money. My father did not give me birth to resort to such cheap actions like Yeddyurappa," said Gowda, who lost his cool at the mention of the chief minister's name.

Gowda's remark came in response to a question by a newsman asking for his comments to the Chief Minister calling the infrastructure project a brainchild of the former premier.

Reacting to Gowda's outburst, Yeddyurappa said: "I am deeply hurt", adding that the JD(S) chief was "desperate" to hit out at him" and was therefore "using such words". "He has lost his mental balance".

As his remarks drew flak, Gowda did a U-turn, denying that his angry words were targetted at Yeddyurappa.

In an apparent  damage control exercise, Gowda clarified telling a regional TV channel, "If they (his remarks) have hurt Yeddyurappa, I express my regret".