Kharge condemns BJP's opposition to Bahmani Utsav

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday justified the state government's decision to organise Bahmani Utsav.

"The Utsav is aimed at creating awareness about the art, literature and culture of the Bahmani dynasty. The event is organised by the department of Kannada and Culture and the district administration. It is improper to oppose the celebrations," he told reporters here at Kalaburagi.

Kharge said: "The government is also celebrating Rashtrakuta Utsav. Does it amount to the appeasement of Hindus and Jains?"

Hasan Gangu-Alauddin-Bahman Shah founded the Bahman dynasty. Gangu is a Hindu word which is associated with the founder of the dynasty, he said.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy pointed out that the government wanted to celebrate the art, cutlure and literature of the dynasty.

"We are not celebrating Bahman rulers, but the art, culture and literature of their era," he told reporters in Bidar

"The BJP is politicising the issue due to the upcoming Assembly elections," he charged.

The BJP chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar were clad in Tippu Sultan attire and celebrated Tippu Jayanthi. However, they opposed the celebration when the Congress government took it up. Raking up an issue turning it into a controversial one has been the job of the BJP," he charged.