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Minister threatens to quit Karnataka Cabinet

Special Correspondent

To protest against CM's absence at Id prayers

BANGALORE: Wakfs Minister and Janata Dal (S) leader Zameer Ahmed Khan on Monday declared that he would quit the Ministry in protest against the failure of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to attend the Id prayer meeting at the Chamarajpet Idgah Maidan on the occasion of Bakrid.

An emotional Mr. Khan made the announcement at the Chamarajpet Idgah Maidan when the Chief Minister did not turn up for the prayer meeting.

Mr. Khan told The Hindu that the Chief Minister promised him a week ago that he would attend the prayer meeting and his name had even been printed in the invitation.

Mr. Khan, a one-time protege of Mr. Kumaraswamy, said that he was pained as the Chief Minister had skipped the programme and stayed at home.

"I would not have felt bad if the Chief Minister had cancelled his programme to attend some other Id prayer meeting. But he did not attend any Id meeting at all," Mr. Khan alleged.

Terming it "lack of concern for minorities, especially Muslims," Mr Khan said that he had decided against continuing in the Ministry of a Chief Minister who did not have concern for minorities.

"My resignation letter is ready. But today being a holiday, I will submit it to the authorities concerned on Tuesday," Mr Khan said. He said he would continue as an MLA.

A source close to the Chief Minister claimed that Mr. Kumaraswamy had not received any invitation from the Idgah committee.

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