TN outfit moves HC to observe Tipu Sultan birth anniversary

Echoing views of their neighbours in Karnataka, a political outfit in Tamil Nadu has moved the Madras High Court to conduct a function to observe Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary in Vellore district.

In his petition, Ismail, a senior leader of Tamizhaga Makkal Jannanayaga Katchi said since Tipu Sultan is a great freedom fighter, it was not wrong to celebrate his birth anniversary.

Ismail’s plea came against the backdrop of the Vellore police rejecting his request to
conduct a meeting at Gudiyatham to spread knowledge about Tipu’s contribution towards the country’s freedom struggle.

“He was a great freedom fighter. He fought against British rule to secure freedom for our country. However, some outfits ares propagating wrong about him,” he said in his petition. In his plea, Ismail also pointed out the speeches and other activities in the proposed function will only be focused around Tipu Sultan’s contribution towards the country.

Stating that various political parties in Tamil Nadu hold meetings regularly in Vellore district, the petitioner contended the exercise of one’s fundamental right cannot be at the mercy of communal elements.

Submitting the police should register a case and take action against those elements if there was any breach of peace, the petitioner said that could not be a ground for refusing his right to hold the meeting.