From Zameer Ahmed’s pocket: Rs 1 lakh each for 4 Bajrang Dal activists; Umrah for 12 Muslims

Mangaluru, Oct 11: Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Zameer Ahmed Khan, who was in the city on Thursday to attend an official programme, raised many eyebrows by exhibiting his generosity.

He pulled out Rs 4 lakh from his pockets and distributed Rs 1 lakh each to four Bajrang Dal activists from Sullia taluk – identified as Bipin Kallugundi, Manohar Kalive, Vijaya Nidinji and Dinesh Kallugundi – for their selfless service during natural calamity at Jodupala village in Kodagu bordering Dakshina Kannada.

The four youths were part of 16 bravehearts who rescued nearly 200 people stranded in Jodupala village which was devastated by floods and landslides in August this year.

“The heroic deed of these 16 youths is praise worthy. All of them are poor and lower middle class people. They had endangered their lives to rescue others,” said Mr Khan.

He said during this recent visit to Sullia, he had met 12 of the 16 youths and all of them were Muslims. “I wanted gift something from my side. They expressed their desire for pilgrimage. I happily agreed to sponsor their journey to Makkah and Madinah to perform Umrah.”

“The four others are these Bajrang Dal activists. They can’t go to Umrah. Hence, I promised them to sponsor a pilgrimage to a temple of their choice in India or any other part of the world. They told me that they would go on pilgrimage along with family members and sought for financial help. Hence I gave them Rs 1 lakh each. They deserve it,” he said.

Cash distribution spree

Earlier this month, during his visit to Tekkil English Medium School, Mr Khan had surprised four winners by pulling out cash from his pocket along with school's trophies. He gave Rs 26,000 each to two students and Rs 10,000 each to two others. Besides, he also announced Rs 8 lakh donation to the school and handed over Rs 5 lakh cash on the spot.

At another event at Peradka, an elderly man, who was affected by floods and landslides in Jodupala, requested help and Mr Khan handed him a bundle of notes amounting to Rs 50,000.

He also promised an ambulance to an organisation which sought for assistance. The handouts did not end there. The minister also gave Rs 20,000 cash to Rinsha Mariam who won gold in the South Asian ITF championship held in Nepal. Later, he attended a function at Mohiuddin Jumma Masjid in Peradka where he announced that he will pay Rs 70 lakh for road work, Rs 10 lakh for laying of interlocking tiles and Rs 25 lakh for development work in a colony where poor people live.