Karnataka BJP targets Minister Zameer over Tricolour hoisting exemption row
Synopsis
On the eve of Independence Day, Karnataka's BJP accused Congress Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan of seeking a written exemption from hoisting the Tricolour — a charge the Congress denied. With bypolls looming and the BJP dragging Rahul Gandhi into the fray, what began as an administrative dispute has turned into a full-blown political flashpoint in the state.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka BJP accused Minister B.Z.
Zameer Ahmed Khan of writing to CM D.K.
Shivakumar seeking exemption from Independence Day flag-hoisting duty on 14 August .
Zameer allegedly cited preoccupation with party organisational work and bypolls as reasons for the exemption request.
Opposition Leader R.
Ashoka called it an act of placing party politics above national duty and demanded Zameer's removal from the Cabinet.
BJP State President B.Y.
Vijayendra said hoisting the National Flag is a ministerial obligation, not a matter of choice.
Congress Minister U.T.
Khader rejected the allegations, saying Zameer had deep patriotism and had never refused to hoist the flag.
The BJP also demanded an apology from Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi , calling the episode reflective of Congress culture.
A political controversy erupted in Karnataka on 14 August after the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan of writing to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar seeking exemption from hoisting the Tricolour during Independence Day celebrations, citing preoccupation with party organisational work and bypolls. The ruling Indian National Congress (Congress) has flatly rejected the allegations.
What the BJP Alleged
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, led the charge, calling the alleged request an act of placing party politics above national duty. 'Those who do not even have the willingness to hoist the National Flag are nothing but anti-national elements in this government,' Ashoka said, demanding to know why Chief Minister Shivakumar had retained Zameer in the Cabinet.
Ashoka also noted that the government provides ministers with all necessary facilities and arrangements to attend official programmes, questioning what engagement could outweigh the Independence Day flag-hoisting duty. He recalled the sacrifices of freedom fighters and called the alleged exemption request inappropriate for a sitting minister.
BJP Drags in Rahul Gandhi
The BJP widened its attack beyond Zameer, targeting Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, calling his party's stance reflective of a broader Congress culture. Ashoka demanded a public apology from Gandhi and the Congress leadership.
'Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership, who believe that party power is more important than the nation, should apologise to the people of Karnataka,' Ashoka said.
Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai alleged that Zameer had lost political standing within the Congress following the Davanagere bypoll. 'Zameer Ahmed, after the Davanagere bye-election, does not have respect in the party and the government. It is evident in every step,' Bommai claimed.
BJP State President Calls It a Dereliction of Duty
BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra stated that hoisting the National Flag was a ministerial obligation, not a discretionary act. 'Zameer Ahmed has written a letter to the CM saying he has no time to hoist the National Flag during Independence Day celebrations as he is busy with party organisation and bypolls. I would have appreciated it if he had declined the ministership also,' Vijayendra said.
Congress Defends Zameer
The Congress hit back through Minister U.T. Khader, who holds the Health and Family Welfare, Minority Affairs, Haj and Waqf portfolios. Khader denied that Zameer had ever stated he would not hoist the National Flag and called the BJP's allegations baseless.
'No BJP leader has love for the country that Minister Zameer has. There is no scope for criticism,' Khader said, adding that Zameer was a leader known for inclusivity.
What Happens Next
The controversy, which broke on the eve of Independence Day, is set to intensify as both sides dig in ahead of upcoming bypolls in Karnataka. The BJP has called for accountability from Chief Minister Shivakumar over his decision to retain Zameer in the Cabinet, while the Congress insists the allegations are politically motivated. The episode underscores the sharpening rivalry between the two parties in the state as bypoll season approaches.
Point of View
The BJP's characterisation of 'refusal' and the Congress's denial of any wrongdoing are both unverifiable. In a state where communal optics have historically been weaponised, attaching an exemption request — however mundane its administrative basis — to questions of nationalism is a well-worn playbook. The real accountability question is simpler: did the minister hoist the flag or not?
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Karnataka Tricolour hoisting controversy about?
The controversy centres on allegations by the Karnataka BJP that Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan wrote to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar seeking exemption from hoisting the Tricolour on Independence Day, citing party work and bypolls. The Congress has denied the allegations, saying Zameer never refused to hoist the National Flag.
Who is Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan?
B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan is a Congress minister in the Karnataka Cabinet. He has been at the centre of the dispute, with the BJP alleging he prioritised party organisational work over his Independence Day duty as a district in-charge minister.
Why did the BJP bring Rahul Gandhi into the controversy?
Karnataka Opposition Leader R. Ashoka alleged that Zameer's conduct reflected a broader Congress culture of placing party interests above national duty, and demanded an apology from Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership.
How did the Congress respond to the BJP's allegations?
Congress Minister U.T. Khader rejected the BJP's allegations outright, saying Zameer had deep love for the country and had never stated he would not hoist the National Flag. He called the criticism baseless and said no BJP leader could match Zameer's patriotism.
What is the political backdrop to this controversy?
The row has erupted ahead of upcoming bypolls in Karnataka, with both the BJP and Congress locked in a sharp rivalry in the state. Former CM Basavaraj Bommai also claimed Zameer had lost political standing within the Congress following the Davanagere bypoll, suggesting internal party dynamics are also at play.
