BJP warns of fighting against Tipu Jayanti

Bengaluru, 05 Nov 2018 [Fik/News Sources]: Even as the government has said that it is determined to go ahead in the matter of celebrating Tipu Jayanti as a government function, BJP, which has been fighting against the move, warned that it would fight against the move.

Union minister for skill development and entrepreneurship, Ananth Kumar Hegde, has already written to the chief secretary of Karnataka, asking the official not to mention his name when printing invitations for Tipu Jayanti celebrations. Deputy home minister, Dr G Parameshwar, who holds home portfolio, has reiterated that in spite of opposition, Tipu Jayanti will be celebrated this year too.

BJP leader, C T Ravi, said that his party will fight against Tipu Jayanti within the limitations of democratic rights.

Ananth Kumar Hegde, who had even in the past expressed resentment at the celebration of Tipu Jayanti, again asked the chief secretary of the state this year not to mention his name in the invitation as per protocol. "People and rationalists have opposed Tipu Jayanti since it was conceived by the previous government, in a big way. We understand from history that Tipu was anti-Kannada and anti-Hindu. Opposition to the celebration of his birthday has been expressed by the people of all the districts, which also had given rise to protests and violence. I condemn the efforts being made to glorify a person who as anti-social," he stated.

C T Ravi said that Tipu, in addition to being against Kannada, was also a communal. "He had changed the names of several places including Mysuru. He was not a king the citizens loved. We do not need to celebrate the birthday of such a person," he said. At the same time, he stated that if the government plans to celebrate birthdays of Santa Shishunal Shariff, Mirza Ismail etc, he and his party will support such an initiative. "We oppose the celebration of the birth anniversary of a communal. We will draw up protest plan within the limits of the current law. Congress is losing its popularity because of glorification of such a person. In the past, Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy had said that celebrating Tipu Jayanti by the government was unnecessary. Now they are celebrating the occasion on behalf of the government," he commented.

Dr G Parameshwar said that all precautions will be taken to ensure that untoward incidents do not happen during Tipu Jayanti. About the letter written by union minister, Ananth Kumar Hegde, he said that the minister's name appears in the invitation as per the protocol and it is left to the choice of the minister either to take part in the function or not. "I have huge respect for veteran researcher, Dr A Chidananda Murthy. He has opposed this celebration. Everyone enjoys the right to speech. But the decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti was taken long back, and it will go on as planned," he clarified.