Minister's 'Muslim Speaker' comment rocks Karnataka Assembly
Belagavi (KTK) (PTI): Protests rocked the Karnataka Legislative Assembly proceedings on Monday with opposition BJP and JD(S) staging a day long agitation from the well, demanding the suspension of Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan from the House over his alleged "Muslim Speaker" remark.
Amidst the din, the House witnessed five bills being passed without discussion, and winding up of a discussion on drought with the government's reply. The ruling Congress and Speaker U T Khader did not heed to the BJP's demand and continued with the proceedings of the House.
Khan, the Minister for Housing, Waqf and Minority affairs during a recent election campaign in Telangana had said that BJP leaders bowed before a Muslim Speaker (U T Khader) in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, thanks to the opportunity given by the Congress.
The government's attempts to defend Khan's statement drew ire from BJP legislators, who called it "anti constitution, anti Hindu" and disrespectful to the position of the Speaker. They also hit out at Speaker Khader accusing him of conducting the proceeding in a dictatorial manner like a "Congress Speaker" and insulting the opposition.
When Khan rose to respond to a question raised by BJP MLA Krishna Naik during the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Ashoka objected to it and said that Khan had disrespected the position of the Speaker and tried to disturb the feelings of Hindus and Muslims, adding that they "would not allow him (to speak)."
Ashoka was joined by several BJP legislators while several Congress MLAs stood up in Khan's defense. This resulted in a verbal battle between both sides and plunged the House into chaos.
The Leader of Opposition said that the Chair should have acted against Khan and suspended him. "Are we (BJP MLAs) gulams (slaves)? To say salaam the way he (Khan) has said," Ashoka said.
While trying to convince the opposition members, the Speaker asked Law and Parliamentary Affairs' Minister H K Patil to explain the government's stand, while requesting to avoid politicising the constitutional post of the Speaker.
Senior BJP MLA C N Ashwath Narayan said that Khan had no right to remain in the House and demanded his suspension from the Assembly.
Ministers Patil and Krishna Byre Gowda objected to BJP raising the issue during the Question Hour, alleging that the opposition was trying to waste the precious time of the House, which was not right. Patil said that the opposition's conduct was causing disrespect to the House.
Speaker Khader told opposition members that they should have raised the issue after giving a notice and asked them to allow the Question Hour.
As his repeated attempts to pacify BJP MLAs and to bring the House in order failed, the Speaker adjourned the Assembly for some time.
When the House met again, the Speaker allowed Khan to reply to questions raised by MLAs during the Question Hour to which Ashoka raised objections and said that Khan's statements could not be forgiven. "This is Bharat, this is Hindustan. He should apologise and he should be suspended from the House," Ashoka said.
He also said it is the duty of the Speaker to protect all members and he should not conduct himself in a partisan way by accepting the "communal statements" made by the Minister towards the Chair. "We will not relent, until you suspend a person who has made a childish and unconstitutional statement towards the Speaker's post," he said, claiming that the then CM S M Krishna had suspended a Minister in his cabinet for communal statements.
BJP members then trooped into the well of the House shouting slogans against the government and demanding suspension of Zameer Ahmed Khan. JD(S) members too joined in.
Standing in the well of the House, the opposition BJP and JD(S) continued to demand Khan's suspension and repeatedly pointed to the Chair that he was supporting Khan's statement without taking any action. This was even as the Speaker conducted the Question Hour and ensured the passage of five bills.
The five bills passed are: The Karnataka Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) bill, Karnataka Compulsory Services by Candidates Completed Medical Curses (Amendment) bill, Karavali Development board bill for overall development of the Karavali (coastal) area, Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) bill, and Karnataka Stamp (Amendment) Bill, which were tabled last week.
Ashoka repeatedly sought to point out that the Chair not taking action against Khan which showed that he wasn't concerned about the disrespect to the Chair.
Khader told him that the issue should have been raised as per rules by giving a notice and that the members should now participate in all important discussions on drought and north Karnataka.
Pointing out that the statement was made by a Minister outside the Assembly and outside the state to which he has already reacted, Khader even questioned the BJP on raising the issue a week after the session began.
Ashoka said: "We respect the chair not because the speaker who occupies it is a Hindu or a Muslim. It is because of respect towards the Chair. The minister's statement has humiliated Hindus, so Khan has to apologise. Extend the session by a week for discussion on key issues, but we won't take back protests."
BJP members raised slogans from the well, even calling Khan a "Pakistani agent."
"CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar claim to be Hindus. Is Congress ashamed to take action when Hindus are insulted?" he asked leading to heated arguments as Congress MLAs objected to it.
Minister Krisha Byre Gowda defended Khan saying he has not uttered anything disrespectful to the Chair and that his words had increased the respect of the Chair. The BJP was indulging in petty politics and also wasting the time of the House, he added.
After passage of bills, the Speaker continued with the ongoing debate on drought and paved the way for the government's reply to the debate.
When the House met post lunch, the deadlock continued with BJP and JD(S) protesting from the well and the Speaker continuing with proceedings of the Assembly.
Ashoka asked the Speaker to decide which was more important: Constitution or appeasement.
To this Khader replied, asking if the opposition found public issues more important or politics.
Intervening, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: "Our party has utmost respect for the Constitution and we are running the government in accordance with it --- you (BJP) people are against the Constitution and you are speaking. Do you respect the Constitution?"
Noting that BJP should be ashamed for raising some issue that appeared in a newspaper, without even giving a notice, instead of discussion on issues like drought and public issues, the CM said: "Khan has clarified to me that he has not said anything -- unconstitutional or disrespecting the Speaker's chair, BJP legislators or their privileges."
He asked the opposition to give notice and raise the issue tomorrow and that the government would be ready to reply to it. "I appeal to you to go back and take part in discussions."
However, adamant on demanding action against Khan, the BJP continued to protest from the well even as the Speaker continued with the proceedings till evening.
"How long will you continue like this? Speaker has to look at both sides. It looks like you are behaving like a Congress Speaker, the House has to be conducted for many days. Many Speakers have come and gone, but have treated respectfully. This is in a dictatorial attitude...we are ready if you conduct proceedings till 1am," Ashoka said, hitting out at the Speaker.
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'Homebound' makes it to Oscar shortlist for best international feature
Mumbai (PTI): Neeraj Ghaywan's much acclaimed "Homebound" is among the 15 films shortlisted in the best international feature category at the Oscars, moving a step close to the final five nominations and maybe a win.
The movie, inspired by a true story that became the basis of a news article during the pandemic, has been creating a global buzz since its debut in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival this May.
Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese is a fan and has come onboard as an executive producer ahead of the award season.
Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, "Homebound" is Ghaywan's second movie after "Masaan".
"Homebound" will compete for an Oscar nomination alongside Argentina's “Belén”, Brazil's “The Secret Agent”, French drama "It Was Just an Accident”, Germany's "Sound of Falling” and Iraq's "The President's Cake".
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The other movies in the shortlist include Japan's “Kokuho”, Jordan's “All That’s Left of You”, Norway's “Sentimental Value”, Palestine's “Palestine 36”, South Korean hit “No Other Choice”, Spain's “Sirat”, "Late Shift" from Switzerland, “Left-Handed Girl”from Taiwan and Tunisian drama “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in a release on Tuesday.
The award for best foreign film, now re-categorised as best international feature, has so far eluded India.
Only three Indian films have received nominations in the category -- Mehmood Khan’s “Mother India”, Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay” and Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “Lagaan”. Deepa Mehta’s “Water”, starring John Abraham and Lisa Ray, also received a nomination but it was submitted from Canada.
Gujarati film "Chhello Show" in 2023 was the last film to get shortlisted.
Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to get an Oscar, bagging the coveted prize in 1983 for the film "Gandhi". Other than her, A R Rahman, Resul Pukootty and M M Keeravani have also won individual Oscars.
Team "Homebound" celebrated the shortlist news with posts on social media.
"We made the shortlist... Way to go team Homebound'!" Johar shared in Instagram Stories.
In a post, the producer said it was difficult for him to articulate how "proud and elated" he was with the news.
"All of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography... thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true... from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film! Upwards and onwards...."
Ghaywan also shared the news on X.
"#Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards! We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we've received from around the world," he wrote on X with a special poster of the film.
Jethwa, who plays one of the two friends in the story opposite Ishaan Khatter, said the moment feels "surreal and incredibly humbling".
"To see 'Homebound' being shortlisted and progressing towards the Oscars is something I could have only dreamed of. I am deeply grateful for the love and support the film has received from audiences around the world," he said as he acknowledged Johar, Ghaywan and co-star Khatter and the rest of the team.
Khatter also shared the news on his Instagram stories and wrote, "Oscar ab dur nahi".
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"Homebound" is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer's The New York Times article “Taking Amrit Home”, also titled "A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway".
The film portrays the childhood friendship between a Muslim and Dalit who chase a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been denied due to their surnames.
The Academy on Tuesday also announced shortlists in 11 other categories, including the newly added casting Oscars, animated shorts, cinematography, documentary feature, documentary short, original score and song, sound and visual effects categories.
Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars. Each category has five nominees, except for best picture, which has 10.
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
