Speaking at a campaign gathering in Karnataka’s Channapatna on Sunday, 10th November Khan said, “K*aliya Kumaraswamy is more dangerous than the BJP,” which prompted sharp criticism from opposition leaders.
ಚನ್ನಪಟ್ಟಣ ಉಪಚುನಾವಣೆ ಪ್ರಚಾರದ ವೇಳೆ ವಸತಿ ಖಾತೆ ಸಚಿವ @BZZameerAhmedK ಜನಾಂಗೀಯ ನಿಂದನೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) November 11, 2024
ಚನ್ನಪಟ್ಟಣ ವಿಧಾನಸಭಾ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾನುವಾರ (10-11-2024) ರಾತ್ರಿ ಪ್ರಚಾರದ ವೇಳೆ ಬಹಿರಂಗ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕವಾಗಿ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸಚಿವರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಹೆಚ್.ಡಿ. ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಅವರನ್ನು, ಜಮೀರ್ ಅಹ್ಮದ್ ಖಾನ್ "ಕಾಲಾ… pic.twitter.com/fPOGcbgBgX
“Due to some differences in our Congress party, CP Yogeshwar contested as an Independent. He had no option but to join the BJP. He was not ready to join the JD(S) because ‘K*aliya Kumaraswamy’ was more dangerous than the BJP. Now he (Yogeshwar) has come back home,” Khan said.
Yogeshwar switched affiliation from the BJP to the Congress before the Channapatna by-poll, which came about after Kumaraswamy resigned as the constituency’s MLA to join the Union. The JD(S) was enraged and objected to Khan’s statements, demanding that the Congress immediately remove the minister from the Karnataka Cabinet for his racist slur.
“Your power and greed that you will buy the family of Deve Gowda who brought you up politically will not last long,” JD(S) said in a post on X. The party also inquired about the colour of Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, HC Mahadevappa, Satish Jarakiholi, Priyanka Kharge, and KH Muniyappa.
ವರ್ಣನಿಂದಕ, ಜನಾಂಗೀಯ ದ್ವೇಷಿ ಮಿಸ್ಟರ್ ಜಮೀರ್,
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) November 11, 2024
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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“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,” it added in another post.
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
“Racial attacks and insults on the leaders who oppose the party is the trend of the Congress. This is the true face of the Karnataka Congress. Hatred, divisive, and disrespectful is the Congress culture. The JDS party is not afraid of all this. Enough is Enough,” the party said in yet another post.
Meanwhile, Kiren Rijiju, a Union minister and senior BJP leader, also criticized Khan’s racist remarks. “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 wrote on X.
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
In the Channapatna assembly by-poll, Yogeeshwara will face Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is seeking office as an NDA candidate on the JD(S) ticket. Khan further alleged that Kumaraswamy indicated he didn’t need Muslim votes. He also challenged Kumaraswamy saying that the Muslim community would buy his entire clan. “Aye Kumaraswamy, tell me your bidding amount. The Muslim community will generate funds that can buy your entire clan,” Khan said amid cheers from the crowd.
Notably, this is not the first time that Khan has commented on the color of Kumaraswamy. He had made similar remarks 3 years ago in Bidar. “I’m short, and God made me short. God made him dark, so he is kala (black). If I called a fair person black, that would be wrong. But black will remain black, isn’t it?” he was quoted as saying.
