The controversy around the celebration of Tipu Sultan Jayanti has once again resurfaced, as the Karnataka government has decided to hold celebrations to honour the 18th-century king Tipu Sultan, despite facing a severe protest by the opposition BJP and many Hindu groups.
According to reports, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy had earlier confirmed that his government will continue to celebrate Tipu Jayanti despite violence in the previous years and opposition from the BJP.
“We will continue the programmes that were started by the previous government. Because they (BJP) object doesn’t mean we should stop,” the chief minister had said. However, the state government has now changed the venue of celebrations from Vidhana Soudha to a different venue to avoid any political controversy.
The decision of the Karnataka government to celebrate Tipu Jayanathi has received severe condemnation from BJP and Hindu groups like Sri Ram Sena and Hindu Janajagruthi Samiti. They have been protesting against the Karnataka government’s move to mark November 10 as Tipu Jayanti.
The BJP has described the controversial Mysore King, Tipu Sultan as a tyrant. Union Minister of State Ananth Kumar Hegde had written to Karnataka’s chief secretary asking him not to include his name in the official invite of Tipu Jayanti. He had said that there is no reason to celebrate a tyrant and added that he was anti-Hindu.
BJP spokesman S Prakash speaking to the media said that the BJP has decided to oppose Congress government’s decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti birth anniversary and the party will fight tooth and nail against the Congress-JDS coalition government in the coming days, said Prakash.
Reacting to Hegde’s statement, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara called it his personal opinion. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said that the government will celebrate the Tipu Jayanti this year too and the government has already held had a meeting with the police officers and reviewed security arrangements to maintain law, order, and peace in the state.
CM HD Kumaraswamy warned that anyone trying to disrupt the celebrations will face severe punishment under the law and further said that it is important to respect all communities. He went on to accuse the BJP of trying to disturb the harmony of the state.
