Bengaluru: After Congress leader Zameer Ahmed sparked controversy by calling Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy “Kalia” (dark-skinned), Janata Dal (Secular) on Monday demanded the expulsion of the Karnataka Minister from the state government and the party itself. 

JDS called Zameer Ahmed a ‘low-minded’ person for making racial slurs towards former Karnataka Chief Minister Kumaraswamy.  

‘What is Skin Colour of Kharge, DK Suresh’

“What is the colour of Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, who is a Kannadiga? What is the color of Priyank Kharge? What is the color of D.K. Suresh? What difference does it make if a person’s skin is black or white? Such a low-minded person like @BZZameerAhmedK should be immediately removed from the @INCIndia, @INCKarnataka, and @siddaramaiah cabinet,” JDS posted on X. 

Karnataka Minister Calls HD Kumaraswamy ‘Kalia’

Earlier, Karnataka Minister Ahmed said that CP Yogeshwar joined Congress instead of JDS as “Kalia Kumaraswamy” is more dangerous than BJP .

“Due to some differences in our party (Congress), he contested as an independent. He had no option but to join the BJP . He was not ready to join the JD(S) because ‘Kaaliya Kumaraswamy’ was more dangerous than the BJP. Now he (Yogeeshwara) has come back home,” the minister said. 

Meanwhile, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju also criticized the Congress leader for making racial slurs against Kumaraswamy. Rijiju highlighted that these remarks have the same connotation as earlier made by Indian Congress Overseas Chairman Sam Pitroda when he said that South Indians resemble Africans. 

“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 posted on X. 

‘Maybe People In South Look Like Africans’

Pitroda, in an interview with ‘The Statesman’, while reflecting upon the situation of democracy in India said, “We have survived 75 years in a very happy environment where people could live together, leaving aside few fights here and there. We could hold a country together as diverse as India, where people on the east look like Chinese, people on the West look like Arab, people on the North look like white and maybe people on the South look like Africans.”