Tension prevailed in Padarayanapura for a brief period on Monday (June 15) as hundreds of supporters of B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, Chamarajpet Congress MLA, took to the streets demanding that Mr. Khan be appointed Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. The protest was led by former city councillor Imran Pasha.

Mr. Khan held charge of the Housing and Minority Welfare Departments in the Siddaramaiah-led government from 2023-26. He was not among the 13 new Ministers inducted into Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s Cabinet on June 3. There have been multiple protests across the State demanding his induction. 

On June 15, the protesters gathered in large numbers in front of Mr. Pasha’soffice in Padarayanapura and sought to march to Vidhana Soudha to press for their demand. They reportedly shut down shops and commercial establishments in and around Padarayanapura. 

According to the police, the organisers had earlier sought permission to hold the protest, but the request was denied. Anticipating a law-and-order situation, authorities deployed a large contingent of police personnel in the area. As the crowd gathered and attempted to march towards Vidhana Soudha, the police intervened and detained several protesters under preventive provisions of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963. 

A senior police officer said the situation was quickly brought under control and remained peaceful throughout. No untoward incidents or damage to property were reported. The police later released the detained protesters after completing legal formalities. Further monitoring has been intensified in the area to prevent any disruption to public order.

Mr. Khan has been involved in a controversy over his alleged role in the recent Davangare South bypoll, where the Muslim community demanded the Congress ticket, but the party fielded a Lingayat candidate. A purported audio recording where he was allegedly heard talking to a local leader against the Congress was recently leaked on social media. But Mr. Khan has denied that it is his voice.