Bengaluru, April 21 (IANS) Karnataka Minister for Housing and Waqf, B. Zameer Ahmed Khan, said on Tuesday that there is dissatisfaction among Muslim religious leaders following action against two Congress MLCs over alleged anti-party activities in the Davanagere South bypoll, and said the Congress would engage with them to resolve the issue.

Reacting to reports that religious leaders had warned of “teaching a lesson” to the Congress in the next election, Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan said, “It is true that they are unhappy. We will speak to them and resolve everything.”

Referring to the action taken against Congress MLCs Abdul Jabbar and Naseer Ahmed, he added, “Naseer Ahmed is a senior Congress leader. If anyone has engaged in anti-party activities, there is a proper procedure to deal with it.”

On demands to withdraw the action, Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan added, “Whatever is done must be done according to rules. It is being said that the action taken was not as per proper procedure.”

On discipline within the Congress, the Karnataka Minister said that any action against the MLCs should follow due process.

“If someone has engaged in anti-party activities, action should follow a procedure — issuing a notice, seeking a reply, and then taking a decision. However, I am not saying the action taken was wrong. The party would have acted after due consideration,” he added.

It may be noted that MLC Abdul Jabbar was asked to resign from his post in the Congress Minority Wing, following which the wing was dissolved, while Naseer Ahmed was removed from the post of Chief Minister’s Political Advisor for allegedly not campaigning for the Congress candidate and engaging in anti-party activities.

Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan reiterated that the state government has not discriminated against the minority community.

“Earlier, the budget allocated by the Karnataka government was Rs 1,200 crore; now it has been increased to Rs 4,900 crore,” he said.

Responding to allegations by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Muslim office-bearers, Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan challenged them to provide evidence.

“Let them produce whatever evidence they have and disclose who has done what. If they name me, I will respond. They should not make vague allegations,” he said.

On criticism that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has remained silent despite his close aides being targeted, the Karnataka Minister defended him, saying, “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is a ‘Tagaru’ (a strong leader) and remains the same as before. He may be silent now, but when he speaks, it will be in a different tone. There is no need for him to speak at this moment; he will do so when required.”

He also responded to reports about a letter written by Muslim religious leaders to Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

“I have seen the letter in the media. They have expressed their opinions, and it is not for me to speak on their views. They should be asked why they wrote it,” Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan said.

Maintaining that there has been no discrimination, the Minister said, “Different people speak in support of different individuals. One person speaks in my favour, another speaks in favour of someone else. All that need not be considered.”

Commenting on recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at the residence of MLA N.A. Harris, Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan alleged bias.

“ED raids do not happen against BJP leaders. Across the country, only Congress leaders are targeted. Even my house was raided, and many Congress leaders have faced similar action. Show me one instance where BJP leaders have been raided,” he said.

“I am not saying raids are wrong. If they have done something, let there be an investigation and the truth should come out. But why is no action taken against BJP leaders? Are they all completely honest?” he asked.

He also alleged selective targeting of Congress leaders, saying that such actions were being carried out deliberately.

–IANS

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