Bengaluru, 14 August

After Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan sought exemption from the duty of hoisting the national flag in Vijayanagara on Independence Day, the State government assigned the responsibility to Minister KS Basavanthappa. 

Khan, an MLA from Chamarajpet in Bengaluru, also declined to take up the responsibility of Vijayanagara district in-charge minister. He wrote a letter to Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday citing a lack of time due to the upcoming local body elections.

But the issue triggered a heated debate in the Assembly, with the BJP demanding that Khan be removed from the Cabinet. BJP members walked out of the Assembly, describing the government’s handling of the issue as “disgraceful”.

Senior BJP MLA Sunil Kumar in the Assembly said Khan was showing a lack of seriousness. 

"If a Minister cannot attend a national festival, then why have such a minister?" he asked.

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, however, defended Khan, saying the latter was unwell and wanted to go to Vijayanagara for the flag hoisting, but couldn’t.  

BJP MLA and former deputy chief minister CN Ashwath Narayan hit back, saying “This act cannot be defended. No Indian would conduct themselves in such a manner, but it is unfortunate such a person is the Minister in Karnataka. This is an insult to the State, country and the national flag.”

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka, meanwhile, stated that Khan was insulting the Constitution, and warned that if the Housing Minister was let off the hook, others would follow suit.