"Zero contribution towards Shiggaon's development": Karnataka Minister Zameer Khan slams ex-CM Bommai

Shiggaon (Karnataka) [India], October 30 : Karnataka Housing, Minorities Welfare, and Waqf Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan on Wednesday accused former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of making no contributions towards the development of the Shiggaon assembly constituency.
Khan was campaigning for Congress candidate Yaseer Khan Pathan in Shiggaon ahead of the upcoming bypoll. He also participated in roadshows and rallies in Jakkanakatti, Karadagi, Savanur, and Bankapur.
He criticized Bommai, saying that despite serving as Chief Minister while representing the constituency, Shiggaon failed to develop as expected.
"Despite Bommai representing this constituency as Chief Minister, it has not developed as expected. Looking at the roads in the town and the condition of the villages, one can assess the extent of Basavaraj Bommai's development efforts. If development was not achieved by the father, can it be done by the son?" Khan remarked.
The minister further alleged that Bommai failed to provide housing for the poor during his tenure. "If Bommai can prove he gave houses to the poor during his term, I will retire from politics," Khan said.
He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of not wanting development, saying that they only wanted to gain votes over Hindu-Muslim issues.
"BJP does not want development. They aim to gain votes by leveraging Hindu-Muslim issues. Provoking and misleading people for political gains is their habit," he said.
He emphasized that the Congress government has fulfilled its election promises and announced new initiatives.
"After Siddaramaiah became the Chief Minister, the Congress party fulfilled the five guarantees it had promised. As a sixth guarantee, it has taken a revolutionary decision to distribute 2.3 lakh houses to the poor," Khan added.
Expressing confidence in Congress winning the Shiggaon seat, Khan said that Ajjam Peer Khadri would work alongside Yaseer Pathan and that both have sent a unified message of working together for the party.
Earlier, Khan had successfully persuaded Ajjam Peer Khadri, who had filed his nomination as a rebel candidate for the Shiggaon bye-election, to withdraw from the race.
Chief Minister's political secretary Naseer Ahmed, MLA Srinivas Mane, former MLA Ajjam Peer Khadri, Ismail Tamatgar, Altaf Kittur, and Syed Ahmed were present at the event.
Earlier, Khan lashed out at the BJP amid the ongoing ruckus over Waqf's alleged land grab. He said that the BJP was bringing up this issue because Maharashtra elections and by-elections are around.
"They bring up this issue because Maharashtra elections and by-polls are around. I have been holding Waqf Adalat not from today but for the last 9 months. Am I a minister just for the Muslim community? I belong to all communities," Khan said.