Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Sep 13: A tour to Colombo and a visit to a casino by JD(S) leaders has sparked a war of words between former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and former minister and Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed.

Rumours were rife that Zameer Ahmed had visited a casino in Colombo with actress Sanjana Galrani. The MLA however dismissed the rumours and said that although he had visited a casino, he was not accompanied by the actress.

"Casino is not illegal. Many politicians, including me have visited casinos. When I was in JD (S), Kumaraswamy and 28 MLAs of their party had also accompanied me to the casino," he had said.

"I have never gone to a casino with Sanjana and I have never taken drugs. If anyone proves that I was involved in the drug mafia they can hang me," Zameer said.

Responding to Zameer Ahmed's statement, Kumaraswamy said in a series of tweets, "Zameer had come with us, we did not accompany him. Colombo tour was first and last. There is nothing to hide in this matter."

He further said that the JD(S) leaders had gone to Sri Lanka in 2014 to discuss next politcal moves and plans for the party, and it was not a 'Colombo tour' in any sense. "We had even released pictures of the meet. It was not a secret."

Meanwhile, BJP MLA of Honnali Renukacharya criticized Zameer Ahmed and said, "Zameer Ahmed is a cheap scrap dealer. Whatever property he has amassed is due to illegal activities."

Minister C T Ravi also criticized Zameer and said, "Is it possible to consider the words of Zameer Ahmed as serious? If he was serious about what he is saying, he should have been the watchman of chief minister."

Speaking to the scribes in the city on Saturday, Ravi said, "Earlier Zameer had said that he will work as a watchman in the house of CM Yediyurappa, if BJP government comes to power in Karnataka. He did not keep his word. Now his statement of writing his property to government, if his accusation in the drugs scandal is proved, is laughable."

JD(S) MLAs went to Colombo for political discussion: Former minister Basavaraj Horatti

Meanwhile, former minister Basavaraj Horatti said that MLAs of JD (S) had gone to casino in Sri Lanka to discuss political matters. There is no need to create any other meaning for their visit to casino, he said.

Horatti said that names of everyone involved should come to light in the drugs scandal.

Responding to the Colombo casino issue involving JD(S) MLAs, Horatti said, "Only those who have gone there know why they went. I did not go. I know that others had gone. I did not go because there was legislative council election. Now the matter has become public.

"Many people go to casino but few admit it. Kumaraswamy has said that he had gone to casino. This has to be appreciated. They had gone to discuss political events. Is there any rule that political matters should not be discussed in a casino?"

Horatti also opined that B S Yediyurappa brought BJP to power in South India. It is not right to remove him from the chief ministers position. Horatti said, "Change of chief minister is being discussed in BJP. Lobbying against Yediyurappa is in full swing. A senior leader of BJP has told me that CM is going to be changed. BJP leaders have also discussed with me the name of the person who is going to the next CM.

"I think due to the background of all these developments, Kumaraswamy has met Yediyurappa. They have had discussion with the view of betterment of the state. Yediyurappa has strived hard to bring BJP to power in Karnataka. This is his last term as the chief minister. It is not right to remove him from that post."