In a viral video, Zameer Ahmed Khan called Kumaraswamy "Kala Kumaraswamy" while criticising his statement about not needing Muslim votes. The remark has sparked widespread condemnation as a racial slur, drawing strong reactions from JD(S) members
Published Nov 11, 2024 | 7:04 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 11, 2024 | 7:04 PM
Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan faces backlash over racist remarks against HD Kumaraswamy
Minister for Waqf and Housing, BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, has sparked a major controversy over racist comments he made against JD(S) state president and Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries, HD Kumaraswamy. He made them during the Channapatna by-election campaign on 10 November.
In a video that has since gone viral, Zameer Ahmed Khan, while campaigning for Congress candidate CP Yogeeshwar, referred to Kumaraswamy as “Kala” (Black) Kumaraswamy. The remarks were made while Zameer was criticising Kumaraswamy’s earlier statement that he did not need Muslim votes in the election.
Zameer Ahmed’s comment was widely condemned as a racial slur, and the incident has prompted strong reactions from political rivals and members of the JD(S).
Khan’s remarks did not end there. He also said, “Kumaraswamy, let us know your value— the entire Muslim community will collect funds and buy your entire family.” He further objected to Kumaraswamy campaigning in Muslim-majority localities for his son, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, in the last ten days leading up to the elections.
The JD(S) has demanded the resignation of Zameer Ahmed Khan, calling his comments a racist insult. In a statement posted on X, JD(S) condemned Khan’s remarks as an act of racial discrimination.
“Union Minister Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy was insulted by Jameer Ahmed Khan as ‘Kala Kumaraswamy’ (Black Kumaraswamy) in Urdu. By this, he has racially insulted black people and committed racial discrimination,” the JD(S) statement read.
ಚನ್ನಪಟ್ಟಣ ಉಪಚುನಾವಣೆ ಪ್ರಚಾರದ ವೇಳೆ ವಸತಿ ಖಾತೆ ಸಚಿವ @BZZameerAhmedK ಜನಾಂಗೀಯ ನಿಂದನೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
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
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) November 11, 2024
The JD(S) further accused Khan of trying to incite hatred between communities, which could disturb peace and law and order in society. They called the comments “unforgivable” and demanded immediate legal action against the minister.
JD(S) also urged Karnataka’s Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara and Ramanagara SP Karthik Reddy to take appropriate steps to address the issue.
The party also called on the All India Congress Committee (AICC) president, Mallikarjun Kharge, to ensure Khan’s resignation, questioning whether there was any moral integrity left within the Congress party to condone such actions.
MP from Arunachal Pradesh, Kiren Rijiju took to twitter to condemn the comments. Likening them to Sam Pitroda’s controversial comments, 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.”
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
This controversy comes on the heels of another incident involving Sam Pitroda, an advisor to the Congress Party, who was also criticised for making stereotypical remarks about Indians from different regions. In May 2024, Pitroda referred to the physical appearances of people from various regions, stating that “people in the East look like Chinese, people in the South look like Africans,” during an interview about democracy in India.
“We are a shining example of democracy in the world…we could hold the country together as diverse as India where people in the East look like Chinese, people in the West look like Arab, people in the North look like maybe white and people in the South look like African. It doesn’t matter. We are all brothers and sisters,” Pitroda said.
“We all respect different languages, different religions, customs and food. That’s the India I believe in, where everybody has a place and everybody compromises a little bit,” he added.
The statements reinforced problematic stereotyping of physical and facial features, skin colour, physiological attributes of Indians from different parts of the country.
The Congress had distanced itself from the remarks saying that it did not represent the views of the grand old party.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Mahesh M Goudar)
