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A massive row erupted in Karnataka after Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan called HD Kumaraswamy “Kaliya”.
HD Kumaraswamy. (File photo/PTI)
Karnataka Minister and Congress leader Zameer Ahmed Khan stoked a controversy with a racist remark on former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy dubbing him as “Kaliya”.
“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,” the minister said at a gathering.
JDS launched a massive attack on Congress over the racist slur and asked if the party would even call Mallikarjun Kharge the same as he is also a Kannadiga.
JDS slams Congress, wants Khan sacked
Hitting back, the JDS said that the people of the state would give a fitting response to the racist slur and demanded Congress to sack the minister.
“The people of the state will give a fitting response to your words of disrespect and your negative mindset towards people of darker skin colour,” JDS posted on X.
ವರ್ಣನಿಂದಕ, ಜನಾಂಗೀಯ ದ್ವೇಷಿ ಮಿಸ್ಟರ್ ಜಮೀರ್,ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ರಾಜಕೀಯವಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆಸಿದ್ದ ದೇವೇಗೌಡರ ಕುಟುಂಬವನ್ನೇ ಖರೀದಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ ಎನ್ನುವ ನಿನ್ನ ಅಧಿಕಾರ ಮತ್ತು ದುಡ್ಡಿನ ದರ್ಪ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ದಿನ ಉಳಿಯಲ್ಲ.. ನಿನ್ನ ಸೊಕ್ಕಿನ ಮಾತಿಗೆ, ಕಪ್ಪು ವರ್ಣದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಿನಗಿರುವ ಹೊಲಸು ಮನಸ್ಥಿತಿಗೆ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಜನರು ತಕ್ಕ ಉತ್ತರ ನೀಡುತ್ತಾರೆ.
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— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) November 11, 2024
“What is the colour of Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, who is a Kannadiga? What is the color of Priyank Kharge? What is the color of D.K. Suresh? What difference does it make if a person’s skin is black or white? Such a low-minded person like @BZZameerAhmedK should be immediately removed from the @INCIndia, @INCKarnataka, and @siddaramaiah cabinet” it added.
BJP leaders condemn racist remark
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju slammed the racist remark while also equating it to “South Indians look like Africans” statement by Sam Pitroda ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections.
“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 posted on X.
BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya slammed the comments and said that Congress wants the divide the country based “even colour of the skin”.
“Earlier, Rahul Gandhi’s mentor Sam Pitroda said South Indians look like Africans…Now, Congress minorities affairs minister Zameer Ahmed Khan says, ‘Kaliya Kumaraswamy is more dangerous than the BJP’. The Congress wants to divide the nation along caste lines and now even colour of the skin. Sick,” he tweeted.
Congress distances itself from remark
Distancing itself from the racist remark, Karnataka Minister and Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge said that no one should make racist remarks against others.
“Senior leaders will talk to Khan,” he said.
