BJP to protest against celebration of Tipu Jayanti

BJP leaders on Monday held two separate press meets in the city within a gap of one hour, to register their opposition to the proposed celebration of Tipu Jayanti on November 10.

Addressing reporters here, former deputy chief minister R Ashoka said, a state-wide protest will be held on November 9, on the eve of Tipu Jayanti, to protest against the adamance of the state government in continuing with the celebrations started by the earlier Siddaramaiah-led Congress government since 2015, despite resistance from various sections of the society.

“The celebration is a disservice to the Wadiyar kings of the Yadu dynasty of Mysuru, the Nayakas led by Mandakari Nayaka of Chitradurga, the sacrifice of Onake Obavva of Chitradurga. Tipu was anti-Kannada and a religious fanatic. He introduced Persian in administration in place of Kannada. So, all those who love and respect Kannada should oppose his Jayanti,” he said.

In reply to a question as to whether the opposition and protest will be limited to November 9, he said, the opposition is on all 365 days of a year and the protests will continue on November 10, 11 and 12 if the government goes ahead with the celebrations, depending on the circumstances.

Ashoka said, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who had stayed neutral during Tipu Jayanti over the past three years, was expected to stick to his stand. “But, he has endorsed the ideology of the Congress, especially that of former CM Siddaramaiah, to save his position (Thatasthadinda Hasthadedege),” he said.

“The Congress and its ally, the ruling JD(S), have been saying that the BJP is raking up the issue for electoral returns. If it is not for vote-bank politics, let the Congress and the coalition government explain, why only Tipu, who is not acceptable to all sections of the society? Why celebrate Tipu Jayanti under such tight security? Does the celebration of jayantis of personalities like Valmiki, Kanakadasa or Kempegowda attract such ire of the people?” he asked.

Suggesting alternatives like former President A P J Abdul Kalam and saint-poet Shishunala Sharifa, Ashoka said, the celebration is to appease only members of fundamentalist outfits like KFD and PFI. “It has to recalled that the cases against members of KFD and PFI were dropped by the Congress government. In 2015, the government itself has admitted that over 500 people from outside caused the violence in Kodagu. By encouraging and appeasing the fundamentalists, the government is abetting communal violence once again. Other Muslim brethren love Kannada and are not fanatics like Tipu Sultan,” he said.

Ashoka was accompanied by presidents of the district units of Mandya Naganna Gowda, Mysuru rural M Shivanna, Mysuru city Dr B H Manjunath and state secretary M Rajendra.Earlier, during a solo media briefing, MP Pratap Simha said, he would write letters to the Deputy Commissioners of both Mysuru and Kodagu districts, not to include his name in the invitations for the Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

He said, he has warned of revealing the real face and tyranny of Tipu Sultan if the district administrations include his name in the invitations to follow protocol. “November is the month of Kannada Rajyotsava. It is unfortunate that Kannada and Culture Minister Jayamala has asserted that the jayanti of Tipu, who neglected Kannada to encourage Persian, would be celebrated. He did not even spare the names of the places. If his lineage had continued, Mysuru would have been Nazarbad, Sakleshpur Munjrabad and Jayamala’s own Dakshina Kannada Jamalabad,” he said.

“While Sanjay Khan was making a television series to glorify Tipu, several people died in a fire mishap. Vijay Mallya, who acquired Tipu’s sword, had to flee to the UK. Siddaramaiah, who started Tipu Jayanti, lost his political base in his home district itself,” he said.