Bengaluru/IBNS: Karnataka Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan has unleashed a political row after making an alleged racist remark against Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy with the latter demanding his ouster from the cabinet.

Ahmed Khan referred to the JD(S) leader as 'Kaaliya Kumaraswamy' while commenting on Channapatna Congress candidate CP Yogeeshwara who had joined BJP but returned to the Congress recently.

"Due to some differences in our party (Congress), he contested as an independent. He had no option but to join the BJP. He was not ready to join the JD(S) because 'Kaaliya Kumaraswamy' was more dangerous than the BJP. Now he (Yogeeshwara) has come back home," Ahmed Khan was quoted as saying by NDTV.

"Kaaliya" is often used as racist slang to describe dark-complexioned people.

Yogeeshwara is contesting the Channapatna assembly bypoll against Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil from the NDA camp on a JD(S) ticket.

JD(S) called out Khan's remark pointing it as a "racist" one while seeking to know the colour of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, ministers HC Mahadevappa, Satish Jarakiholi, Priyank Kharge and KH Muniyappa.

Terming it a "new low in the political discourse", the JD(S), posted on X: "Dismiss such a low mentality person from the Cabinet immediately".

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju also condemned Khan's remark, posting: "I strongly deplore Congress Minister Zameer Ahmed calling Union Minister & Ex CM of Karnataka Sh. Kumaraswamy as 'Kaalia Kumaraswamy'. This is a racist remark, same as Rahul Gandhi's adviser calling South Indians look like Africans, North East as Chinese, North Indians as Arabs."