The opposition parties in Karnataka are demanding the removal of Minister for Housing, Zameer Ahmed Khan, from the state cabinet for making a racist remark against Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. The Congress leader allegedly made the remark during a campaign rally in Ramanagara for Channapatna bypolls on Sunday.
Apparently, the Congress leader made the controversial remark while campaigning for Channapatna by-election Congress candidate C.P. Yogeeshwara at Ramanagara on Sunday. Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil is contesting the bypolls in the JD(S) ticket. Khan allegedly called Kumaraswamy 'Kaaliya', referring to his skin complexion.
Addressing minorities in the constituency, Khan on Sunday said, "Due to some differences in our party (Congress), he contested as an independent. He had no option but to join the BJP. He was not ready to join the JD(S) because 'Kaaliya Kumaraswamy' was more dangerous than the BJP. Now he (Yogeeshwara) has come back home," PTI reported.
Khan alleged that Kumaraswamy had said he did not need Muslim votes and played out an audio during the meeting. In the audio, Kumaraswamy is heard saying, “My politics is not dependent on Muslim votes. I am making this clear. I don't need Hijab or Pajaab.”
The nation vehemently condemns the disgraceful and racially charged remarks by Zameer Ahmed against HD Kumaraswamy. This kind of hateful language marks a new low in political discourse and has no place in a civilized society. We demand accountability from leaders who choose… https://t.co/teH4kZbzmN
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) November 11, 2024
However, Khan defended his racist remarks saying he shared a close relationship with Kumaraswamy and addressed him as ‘Kaliya’ with love. “I have always called Kumaraswamy as 'Kariyanna' with love. We were very good friends, I had always addressed him that way. And the same came out while talking," News 18 reported quoting the minister.
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Both the BJP and JD(S) condemned the minister for his comments. In a post on X, JD(S) called the minister a 'racist'. “Your power and greed that you will buy the family of Deve Gowda who brought you up politically will not last long," it tweeted. JD(S) demanded that a person with such a low mentality should be dismissed from the cabinet immediately.
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, also condemned Khan's slur. "I strongly deplore Congress Minister Zameer Ahmed calling Union Minister & Ex CM of Karnataka Sh. Kumaraswamy as 'Kaalia Kumaraswamy'. This is a racist remark, same as Rahul Gandhi's adviser calling South Indians look like Africans, North East as Chinese, North Indians as Arabs," Rijiju tweeted.
