Will not side with dissidents: Qamar-Ul-Islam

Former minister Qamar-Ul-Islam on Thursday said he will not associate himself with disgruntled party MLAs and said the party has assured him justice.

Islam said AICC secretary in charge of Karnataka A Chellakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have assured him an appropriate position in the party. “I will not demand change in leadership in the state nor will I associate with V Srinivas Prasad and M H Ambareesh (who are demanding leadership change),” he told reporters.

He said he has informed both Chellakumar and Siddaramaiah that injustice has been done to minorities after the recent reshuffle of the council of ministers. They have promised to take appropriate measures to provide justice to the community, he added.

Islam, who was minister for municipalities and minority development, was dropped from the Cabinet. He had rebelled against the party and hit out at Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikharjuna Kharge.

Sources in the party said Chellakumar met Ambareesh and tried to pacify the ‘rebel’ star.