Karnataka Minister's 'Suicide Bomber' Offer Against Pakistan Stirs Row: 'If PM Modi Allows...'
Karnataka Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan sparked a row on Friday after he declared that he was ready to go to war against Pakistan as a "suicide bomber" in the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
He made the dramatic statement during a press conference which quickly went viral on social media.
An emotionally charged Khan said, "Pakistan has always been India’s enemy," as he condemned the dastardly attack in which 26 civilians were killed last month.
“If Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah allow me, I’m ready to go to Pakistan with a suicide bomb strapped to me and launch an attack," he said.
The Karnataka Housing and Minorities Welfare Minister further said that he was willing to sacrifice his life for the country and urged the Centre to take decisive action.
As everyone around him laughed at his remark, Khan said, "I am not joking or saying this in a funny way, but I am very serious about it.”
However, Khan's regressive rhetoric came in contrast to the stance taken by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who called for restraint and diplomacy over calls for armed retaliation.
“War is not the solution. It will only lead to more loss of life on both sides. We must act with wisdom and focus on national interest, not emotional outbursts," the CM said.
However, after backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party, the CM clarified his comments saying, “I did not say no to a war with Pakistan. What I said is that war is not a solution.”
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