Zameer Ahmed Khan denies claims of him seeking 5000 crores for renovation of Haj Bhawan

Vartha Bharati | 09-06-2023 | 00:05:00 IST

Minister for Housing and Minorities, Zameer Ahmed Khan

Bengaluru: Minister for Housing and Minorities, Zameer Ahmed, has strongly denied the viral claims suggesting that he sought a massive sum of five thousand crore rupees from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the construction of Haj Bhawan. In a statement addressing the matter on Thursday, Zameer categorically refuted these allegations, labeling them as pure lies.

Zameer clarified that his actual statement was regarding the allocation of Rs 5000 crores for the development of the minority community if the Congress government came to power. He had appealed for this allocation to be included in the Congress manifesto, assuring his commitment to providing it.

Expressing concerns over the possible reduction of funds, Zameer emphasized the need to avoid any deductions. He stated, "Our religious leaders are concerned as they have heard that the grant they were supposed to receive may be reduced due to the implementation of the five guarantee schemes. In 2018, during your tenure as Chief Minister, Rs 3150 crore was allocated for the development of minorities. However, subsequent governments gradually reduced this grant. Hence the request for five thousand crore rupees. Providing this grant would greatly benefit our community."

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Zameer also expressed gratitude for the allocation of five crore rupees for the renovation of Haj Bhavan. However, he expressed displeasure over individuals who have misinterpreted his statement and engaged in trolling. He firmly stated, "Such misrepresentations are far from the truth, and strict legal action will be taken against such individuals."

In addition to online trolls, Zameer Ahmed highlighted that mainstream media, specifically Public TV news channel, had also misrepresented his statement. The channel aired a segment falsely indicating an "Allocation of 5,000 crores for the renovation of Haj Bhavan," when in reality, the allocated amount was only 5 crore. Zameer Ahmed clarified this discrepancy, urging accurate reporting by the media.

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Denied chance to speak, Maharashtra Dy CMs Shinde, Pawar left embarrassed at Ambedkar Jayanti event

15-04-2025 ¦ 15-04-2025 IST

Image Credit: X/@CMOMaharashtra

Mumbai: An unexpected turn of events at the annual state-organised celebration of Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s birth anniversary left Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar in an awkward position, as both leaders were denied the opportunity to deliver their scheduled speeches.

The commemoration, held at Chaitya Bhoomi, was to feature addresses from several top dignitaries, including Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and the two deputy CMs. As per reports, brief five-minute speaking slots had been allotted to Shinde and Pawar at 10:10 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., respectively.

While the Governor and Chief Minister addressed the gathering, both Shinde and Pawar were unexpectedly left out due "time constraints." Visibly displeased, the two leaders reportedly exited the venue without addressing the media.

In a bid to end the controversy, Shinde later downplayed the incident, stating that delivering a speech was secondary to the act of paying tribute to Dr Ambedkar. "What can be more important than taking Babasaheb’s darshan at Chaitya Bhoomi? Taking Babasaheb’s darshan was important than that speech," Shinde remarked.

He said that Dr Ambedkar’s invaluable contribution to the nation cannot be forgotten, noting that his Constitution gave every citizen equal rights, empowering even the most marginalised to live with dignity. “If we can genuinely follow even one of his principles, it would be the greatest tribute,” he added.

Shinde further emphasised that he harboured no resentment, insisting that leaders must look beyond trivial matters and focus on broader goals.

Echoing a similar sentiment, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar clarified that he voluntarily chose not to speak, citing scheduling challenges.

The incident comes amid ongoing political chatter around internal rifts within the ruling Mahayuti coalition. However, Shinde recently dismissed such speculation, stating that any differences would be resolved amicably through dialogue.