Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Karnataka minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan issued a “conditional” apology on Tuesday following backlash over referring to Union minister HD Kumaraswamy as “Kaalia.” While Khan expressed regret, he explained the remark as a term of “affectionate banter,” insisting that both he and Kumaraswamy have long used playful nicknames for each other.
“If I had called him such a word for the first time, I would have apologized. Out of affection, he used to call me ‘Kulla’ (dwarf), and I used to call him ‘Kariyanna’ (black brother). If he or anyone else is pained by it, I apologize. What’s wrong with that?” Khan explained.
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar’s Defense
Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar supported Khan, describing the exchange as friendly banter and accusing the BJP of creating unnecessary controversy. “Kumaraswamy and Zameer Ahmed are the closest of friends. Has Kumaraswamy made any statement about this? The BJP is only trying to create controversy… Zameer has always been a key ally of Kumaraswamy,” Shivakumar said.
Backlash from JDS and BJP
The Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) strongly condemned Khan’s comment and called for his dismissal. In a post on X, the JDS questioned if Congress would accept similar language for leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and DK Suresh.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also condemned the remark, accusing Congress of fostering divisiveness. “Congress minister Zameer Ahmed calls HD Kumaraswamy ‘Kaliya.’ This is ‘nafrat ki dukan’ (a shop of hatred)… Just like Sam Pitroda was promoted by Rahul Gandhi after calling South Indians ‘Africans,’ now Rahul will promote Zameer too,” Poonawalla said.
