Bengaluru: The Karnataka Congress leadership’s action against two MLCs, along with pulling up of housing minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan over alleged anti-party activities during the Davanagere South bypoll, has triggered a sharp backlash from Islamic scholars, signalling unease within a key support base of the party.Condemning the move, members of the Ulama-e-Karnataka said Thursday that the action had caused disgruntlement and despair among the community. The body said it would convene meetings with community members to discuss appropriate measures to safeguard the interest of the community.The controversy follows disciplinary action against MLCs Naseer Ahmed and Abdul Jabbar after the April 9 bypolls to Bagalkot and Davangere South. Jabbar resigned as the chairman of the KPCC minority wing last week and was stripped of the primary membership Wednesday, while Ahmed was removed as political secretary to chief minister Siddaramaiah.Zameer was also pulled up during his two meetings with Siddaramaiah earlier this week. The CM is learnt to have reprimanded the minister for not actively campaigning during the bypoll and asked him to brief AICC leaders to avoid action.All three Muslim leaders are seen as close to Siddaramaiah, and there are reports that the action was initiated by AICC at the behest of KPCC chief DK Shivakumar, allegedly targeting the CM’s supporters.At a press conference Thursday, members of Ulama-e-Karnataka said the Davanagere South bypoll developments had sent a negative signal to minority communities, especially Muslims, and that the discontent deepened with action against the two MLCs even before results were declared.“We are here to make Congress know that the Muslim community in Karnataka is unhappy with the decision of Siddaramaiah and the Congress high command. We are also surprised at the silence of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge when such a serious injustice is meted out,” said Mufti Iftikhar Ahmad Qasmi, president of the Karnataka unit of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind.Qasmi said the removal of Ahmed and resignation of Jabbar had sent disturbing signals and reflected indifference towards the aspirations of marginalised sections. “The entire Muslim community has expressed deep displeasure and anguish over the actions of Siddaramaiah and the Congress high command. The developments after the bypolls have increased our grievances against the Congress party and AICC secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala,” he added.Recalling events prior to the bypoll, the Ulema body members said it had held multiple rounds of discussions with senior Congress functionaries, including Siddaramaiah and Kharge, and later with Surjewala, seeking a ticket for a Muslim candidate for Davanagere South. “Since minorities are present in large numbers in both Davanagere South and North, it was only just to field a Muslim candidate in at least one constituency. We have raised this demand for many years but they did not heed,” it said.According to the body, Surjewala had promised them that the demand would be discussed with the state leadership and the high command. However, the announcement of Samarth Shamanur, grandson of late Shamanur Shivashankarappa, as the Congress candidate led to disappointment, with family members already present in the Lok Sabha and the state assembly. “We were shocked when the name of Samarth was announced as the official Congress candidate. This caused widespread disappointment as our repeated requests were ignored,” the ulema said.The body also flagged concerns over pending promises, noting that issues such as reservation for Muslims, the anti-conversion bill, and the hijab row remain unresolved. “Even after nearly three years in office, key issues in the Congress manifesto remain unaddressed,” it said.————QuoteWe are here to make Congress know that the Muslim community in Karnataka is unhappy with the decision of Siddaramaiah and the Congress high command. We are also surprised at the silence of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge when such a serious injustice is meted out-Mufti Iftikhar Ahmad Qasmi, president, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Karnataka
