The Congress, which is grappling with dissidence by several disgruntled ministerial aspirants, now also has to deal with differences among top Muslim legislators in the party who are trading charges against each other.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan on Tuesday hit back at the former Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait and challenged him for a show of strength in the latter’s Narasimharaja constituency. He was speaking to reporters after a review meeting with department officials here.
On Mr. Sait’s statement that Mr. Khan lacked capability to be the face of the Muslim community, he retorted, “Am I a relative of Rahul Gandhi? The high command will not make someone a Minister just like that. If he (Mr. Sait) was the face and had the capability, he would have got the chance.”
To alleged opposition by senior Congress leader Roshan Baig on the Haj and Minority Welfare Department being given to him, Mr. Khan said, “It is natural. He is a senior leader; he had a wish to become a Minister. There is nothing wrong about it. But our high command has given me the responsibility. He was also given the responsibility earlier for five years. Now, after Mr. Gandhi became AICC president, he wanted new faces, so this has changed.”
He said a proposal to distribute 2 kg additional rice per person in BPL families under the Anna Bhagya scheme was being discussed.
Zameer eyes former CM’s SUV
Food and Civil Supplies Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan is eyeing the sport-utility vehicle (SUV) used by the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during his tenure.
Revealing that he had asked for that car to be given to him, Mr. Khan on Tuesday said, “I am used to travelling in big cars. People like me will be recognised only if we use big cars. So, I have asked for a big car. It need not be a new vehicle. I have asked for the Fortuner car used by Mr. Siddaramaiah as this vehicle is in a good condition when compared with all the other vehicles,” he said.
