Karnataka minister offers to fight Pakistan as suicide bomber

Karnataka minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan has pledged to fight against Pakistan, if necessary as a suicide bomber, days after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said war should not be the first option.

"We are Indians, we are Hindustani, there's no connection between us and Pakistan. If we need to go to war against them, I'm ready to fight," the Housing, Waqf and Minority Affairs Minister said.

"As a minister, if they send me, I will go to the front lines. If needed, I will wear a suicide bomb,” he added.

Also read: India bans direct, indirect imports from Pakistan over Pahalgam attack

‘Not joking’

Khan, speaking in Kannada and English, said he was not being impulsive or joking.

“If the country needs me, let (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi and (Union home minister) Amit Shah give me a suicide bomb, I will wear (it) and go to Pakistan," the Congress leader said.

'Always been enemy’

“Pakistan has always been India’s enemy,” Khan added.

Khan’s remarks followed the April 22 massacre by Pakistani terrorists of over two dozen civilians at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, pushing India-Pakistan relations to a new low.

Khan’s aggressive stand was in sharp contrast to Siddaramaiah’s comment earlier when he said that he does favour a war with Pakistan.

Also read: 'War with Pak only if inevitable': Siddaramaiah clarifies after BJP's offensive

CM against war

"There is no necessity to wage a war against Pakistan. Strict security measures must be initiated. We are not in favour of waging war. There should be peace, people must feel secure, and the Central government should ensure effective security arrangements," he said.