Tipu Sultan Jayanti observed as Black day today by BJP in Karnataka

The birth centenary celebrations of Tipu Sultan,the 18^th century warrior king, also called the “ Tiger of Mysore” was officially celebrated by the present Congress government since last year. That year also witnessed violent protests by the Hindutva groups of RSS and BJP. Two people also died in the violence last year. This year, the court was approached to stop the state sponsored celebrations which decided that the executive has to decide but made the observation that Tipu Sultan was a monarch and not a freedom fighter.

“Learn history instead of misleading public”- CM Siddharamaiah

Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddharamaiah strongly defended his government’s decision to celebrate the occasion and said Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali had waged four wars against the British in a bid to drive them out of the country. Tipu Sultan was even forced to keep his sons as hostage to pay for the war expenses, he said.

Accusing the BJP of distorting history, Mr. Siddaramaiah said far from destroying temples as alleged by the BJP, Tipu had actually donated funds to temples.“Had he been anti-Hindu, how would the temple of Sri Ranganathaswamy exist adjacent to his fort in Srirangapatna?” the Chief Minister questioned and advised the BJP leaders to learn history instead of misleading the public.

This year is again marked by ugly protests

The Tipu Sultan centenary celebrations this year is again marked by ugly protests with the Hindutva groups calling Tipu a butcher of Hindus. Christians and Dalits have been roped into the protests. Karnataka has literally turned into a fortress with curfew declared in 10 districts, including Bangalore. On Wednesday two people were killed in the protests in Coorg(near Mysore) inspite of the government deploying 119 KSRP platoons, 9,000 Home Guards, and 7 companies of Central forces across the state to avoid untoward incidents.

The former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa courted arrest today, “We are not anti-Muslim but we strongly oppose the Tipu Jayanti programme,” he declared to the media. Nearly 50 BJP protesters were taken into preventive custody, the police said. “Arrested while protesting against Cong govt for celebrating Tipu Jayanti, Will scrap this Jayanti within 24hrs of forming BJP govt in 2018,” tweeted the BJP state leader B.S. Yeddyurappa.

The same BJP and Yeddurappa also praised Tipu when in power

JDS leaders criticized the politicization of Tipu and reminded that Yeddurappa himself participated in Tipu programs and released photos to prove the same.

Our leaders change their beliefs according to the times.

-UDAAN