Amid a massive row over his alleged racist remark against Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, Karnataka Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan on Tuesday, November 12, tendered an apology. He clarified that he called Kumaraswamy, "Kaalia," out of affection.
The housing and waqf minister claimed it was not the first time, adding he referred to the former Karnataka CM by the same name when they shared a close bond, PTI reported.
The Karnataka minister was earlier a part of the JD(S) and considered a close associate of Kumaraswamy.
"If I had called him using such a word for the first time, I would have apologised...Out of affection, he used to call me 'Kulla' (dwarf), and I used to call him 'Kariyanna' (black brother). If still he or anyone is pained by it, I apologise. What is there in that?" Khan said.
Asked whether his statement will have any impact on the Assembly by-polls in Channapatna, Khan replied: "Why will it affect? I have not called in such a way for the first time. When Kumaraswamy and I were close, he used to call me 'Kulla', I used to call him Kariyanna... If JD(S) workers are pained by it, I apologise."
What the Karnataka minister said
Khan, a five-time MLA from the Congress party, handles the housing, waqf and minority welfare portfolios in the Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka.
Recently, he took part in campaigning for Congress' C.P. Yogeeshwara in the Channapatna Assembly constituency for the by-election, necessitated after Kumaraswamy, the sitting MLA, was elected to the Lok Sabha.
Yogeeshwara, who earlier shifted to the BJP, has now returned to Congress and is fielded against H.D. Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil.
Taking about Yogeshwara's return to Congress, Khan said due to some differences in the grand old party, he contested as an Independent. "He (Yogeshwara) 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 has come back home," NDTV quoted the state minister as saying.
JD(S), BJP demand Khan's removal
The JD(S) and the saffron party have demanded that the state government must sack Khan from the Cabinet over his "racist slur.”
"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 divisive attacks over constructive dialogue," read a post on the official X handle of JD(S).
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
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also criticised Khan over his comments on X.
"I strongly deplore Congress Minister Zameer Ahmed calling the 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," he said.
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.
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) November 11, 2024
Apart from Channapatna, Shiggaon and Sandur will also go to by-polls on Wednesday, November 13. The results will be declared on November 23.
