K’taka minister casts racial slur against HDK

Karnataka Housing and Waqf Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan has stirred up a controversy by mocking Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy as “Kaalia Kumaraswamy” and “Kaala Kumaraswamy”.

While campaigning for Congress candidate CP Yogeshwar in Channapatna where an Assembly bypoll is scheduled for November 13, Khan said Yogeshwar, who until recently was a BJP MLC, was disillusioned with other parties and hence chose the ruling regime.

“He did not want to join the JD(S) because ‘Kaalia’ Kumaraswamy’ is worse than the BJP. After going with the BJP, Kumaraswamy is planning to buy Muslim votes. Kumaraswamy should know that Muslims have the power to raise donations to buy his whole family,” Khan said.

Playing a year-old audio clip in which Kumaraswamy could be purportedly heard saying ‘he would not seek Muslim votes’, Khan said, “Who’s saying this? The ‘Kaala Kumaraswamy’.”

In the past too, Khan has made remarks on Kumaraswamy’s colour.

Channapatna, which was previously represented by Kumaraswamy in the Karnataka Assembly, will now witness a contest between Yogeshwar and Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil, who is the BJP-JD(S) candidate.

The JD(S), in a post on X, called Khan a “racist”. “Other Congress leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge, HC Mahadevappa, Satish Jarkiholi, Priyank Kharge, DK Suresh and Rahim Khan too have dark complexion. The comment shows dirty mindset,” the JD(S) said.