Bengaluru: Karnataka Assembly Speake Mr. UT Khader said he was not appointed as the Speaker based on his religion but to work as per the Indian Constitution.
Mr. Khader on Saturday sought to play down the comments of Housing and Minority welfare minister Zameer Ahmed Khan about the Congress making a Muslim person the speaker of the state assembly.
“I am bound by only party and religion and that is the Indian Constitution. Being a Speaker, I am not associated with any particular political party,” Khader said.
“I do not want to comment on any individual’s statement. I am Speaker for everyone and this post has nothing to do with any particular party, caste or religion. I work as per our Constitution. Speaker’s post must not be looked at on the basis of a religion or party. If anybody respects me, it is not for U T Khader but for my post and I will ensure to protect the sanctity of this post,” he added.
Khan had kicked up a political storm during election campaigning in Telangana recently by stating that Congress had made a Muslim as Speaker and senior BJP leaders now bow him in the House.
With many leaders of opposition parties criticizing him for insulting the constitutional post, Minister Zameer was quick to clarify that he had spoken only about the respect given to the Muslim community by the Congress and that he had not insulted legislators of any party.
Hitting out at Zameer, BJP state president BY Vijayendra said Zameer showed his disrespect to the esteemed speaker’s chair by making such remarks.
“Regardless of party affiliation, all MLAs, including those from BJP, uphold the speaker’s position as the constitutional and ceremonial leader of the house. Zameer Ahmed’s inappropriate remarks, attempting to associate religious undertones with the speaker’s constitutional role, are profoundly undemocratic and reveal a lack of faith in the Constitution. We firmly denounce this behavior and call for an unconditional apology,” he tweeted.
JDS floor leader and former CM HD Kumaraswamy condemned Zameer’s statement and said it is an insult to the House. However, none of the Congress leaders reacted to his controversial statement.
Dakshina Kannada BJP MP Nalin Kumar Kateel meanwhile demanded the resignation of Zameer for ‘disrespecting’ the Speaker. “Zameer has disrespected the Speaker’s post by painting it with a religious color. It shows Zameer’s mindset. Chief minister Siddaramaiah must seek Zameer’s resignation” he said.
