Bengaluru, Feb. 17 -- Defending Congress workers amid the row sparked by Karnataka Minister HC Mahadevappa's recent "stray dogs" remark, former MP DK Suresh on Tuesday said party workers are "loyal like dogs," asserting that loyalty is a virtue and not an insult.

Responding to questions in Bengaluru about the controversy and loyalty among outsiders in the Congress, Suresh said he did not know who exactly had been compared to dogs but stressed that Congress workers have consistently stood by the party.

"I only said that I don't know who the dogs were compared to. Congress workers are loyal like dogs. Dogs repay their owners' kindness. They do nothing else - it is their nature. People keep street dogs, and they also keep dogs at home. Every...