Wakf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan quits

Bangalore, Jan 2 (UNI) In a blow to the less than one-year-old Janata Dal (S)-BJP coalition government in Karnataka, Wakf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan today tendered his resignation in protest against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's absence at a Bakr-eid prayer meeting here.

Mr Khan met Governor T N Chaturvedi at the Raj Bhavan this morning and tendered his resignation. His meeting with the Governor came soon after Mr Kumaraswamy called on Mr Chaturvedi.

Talking to newspersons after meeting the Governor, Mr Khan said that Mr Kumaraswamy had insulted his community by not attending the prayer meeting, for which he had personally invited the Chief Minister.

Mr Khan said he would also submit his resignation letter to Assembly Speaker Krishna.

''I will take back the resignation only of if Chief Minister apologises to the community.'' When told about Mr Kumaraswamy's statement that he had sanctioned five acres of land for the Haj Bhavan, Mr Khan said it was not the Chief Minister's personal property, but was government land. ''He has not given any special help to the community,'' Mr Khan added.

UNI