Zameer Ahmed quits coalition Ministry in Karnataka

Karnataka’s Minister for Haj and Wakf B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan has resigned from the coalitionMinistry in the State in protest against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s failure to participate inthe Eid prayer meeting in Bangalore.

Submitting his resignation to Governor T N Chaturvediin Bangalore yesterday, Zameer Ahmed Khan toldreporters that his continuation in the JD (S)-BJPcoalition Ministry had become untenable after theChief Minister “disrespect” to the Muslim community bystaying away from the Eid prayer meeting atChamarajapet Eidgah on Monday after promising toattend the meeting.

Zameer Ahmed Khan, however, said he would remain inthe JD (S) and would work for the welfare of thepeople of his constituency as an ordinary MLA.A copy of his resignation letter has also been sent tothe offices of the Chief Minister and AssemblySpeaker.“I had invited the Chief Minister to participate inthe Bakrid prayers eight days in advance. I canunderstand if he was on a tour or had a busy schedule.But, he was free on Monday. I had even reminded himabout the occasion the previous day”, a visibly hurtZameer Ahmed Khan.

The Chamarajapet JD (S) MLA said he was personallyhurt when he went to the Chief Minister’s homeAnugraha on Monday morning to escort him to the Eidprayer meeting. “He did not even show the courtesy ofmeeting me. I waited for almost two hours andreturned. I cannot swallow this insult”, he said.

A one-time confidante of Kumaraswamy, Zameer AhmedKhan said he would not have felt offended had theChief Minister cancelled his visit to ChamarajpetEidgah to attend some other Eid meeting. “But, he didnot attend any meeting. He just chose to stay athome”, Zameer Ahmed Khan.

Questioning the Chief Minister’s commitment to Muslimcommunity, Zameer Ahmed Khan said Kumaraswamy hasclearly demonstrated his lack of concern for thewelfare of the Muslim community.He accused the Chief Minister of “insulting” even theChristian community by not visiting any Church onChristmas day. “He is only shedding crocodile tearsfor the minorities. He has no real concern for them”,he added.

Zameer Ahmed Khan, however, said he would withdraw hisresignation if the Chief Minister publicly apologizedto the Muslim community. “There is no point in himapologizing to me. He should apologize to the Muslimcommunity, whose sentiments he has hurt”, he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said therewas no threat to the JD (S)-BJP coalition from theresignation of Zameer Ahmed Khan. “Everybody knowsthat the coalition Government is committed to thewelfare of the Muslim community. My Government hassanctioned 5 acres of land in Bangalore forconstruction of a Haj House, which no other Governmenthas done”, he said.

It may be mentioned here that Zameer Ahmed Khan, atransport magnate, had won the by-polls toChamarajapet assembly constituency in Bangalore during2005. It was at his guest house in Sadashivanagar inBangalore, where Kumaraswamy had convened meetings ofJD (S) MLAs to plan a coup against the erstwhileDharam Singh Government. So close was Zameer AhmedKhan to Kumaraswamy that he took oath in the name ofthe Chief Minister at the time of his swearing into the coalition Ministry last year.