Demand to sack Karnataka mantri for HDK racial slur

BENGALURU: Opposition JD(S) and BJP demanded Monday the removal of Karnataka housing and waqf minister Zameer Ahmad Khan for referring to Union minister HD Kumaraswamy as “kaalia”, a racial slur for dark-skinned people, while campaigning for Channapatna assembly constituency bypolls Sunday.

The backlash prompted Khan to clarify that he never intended to hurt former CM Kumaraswamy. “I have always called Kumaraswamy ‘kariyanna’ (brother with a dark complexion in Kannada) out of affection, just as he has always called me ‘kulla’ (short statured). Yesterday’s reference was made purely out of habit, not as a racial slur,” the minister said. He also called Kumaraswamy’s father and former PM HD Deve Gowda his “political guru”.


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