Tipu Jayanti: No invite for those who don't want it

The state government has decided to leave out leaders who do not want their names included on the official invitation cards for the Tipu Jayanti on November 10.

Union Minister Ananthkumar Hegde and Udupi-Chikamagalur MP Shobha Karandlaje have formally written to deputy commissioners, seeking exclusion of their names from the invitation cards for the event. Other BJP leaders such as MPs Pratap Simha and Prahlad Joshi have only publicly lashed out at the government for celebrating the birth anniversary of "a tyrant and anti-Hindu" ruler.

"Deputy commissioners have been told not to include those who have formally requested their names to be kept out," an official with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier said names of BJP leaders had to be included in the invitation cards in accordance with protocol. The decision to keep dissenting leaders out is aimed at avoiding embarrassment, especially after Hegde announced that if he did get invite, he would "speak out the truth about Tipu" on stage.

However, as per protocol, the names of BJP's Bengaluru MPs P C Mohan, H N Ananthkumar and D V Sadananda Gowda will be included in the invitation that the Kannada and Culture Department will bring out for the Tipu Jayanti scheduled to be held at Vidhana Soudha. "We have not received a formal request seeking exclusion of their names," the official added.