Withdraw decision to observe Tipu Jayanti, BJP to govt

Members of BJP district unit staged a protest urging state government to withdraw its decision to observe Tipu Jayanti, in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner here, on Friday.

The protesters raised slogans against the government and demanded that Tipu Jayanti be replaced with the celebration of birth anniversaries of Santha Shishunala Sharif, former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam or other Sufi saints who had contributed to the country.

Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, “Tipu is not a bigot but former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who began observing Tipu Jayanti in order to appease a section of the society, is a bigot. It was he who started the tradition of observing Tipu jayanti, which the Muslims do not believe in. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy should observe jayanti of Siddaramaiah along with Tipu.”

The government is hurting the sentiments of the majority Hindus. The government is following divide and rule policy of the British and is engaged in vote-bank politics, he said.

“All those who were associated with Tipu in the past, whether Vijaya Mallya, who got Tipu’s sword, or Siddaramaiah, who started Tipu jayanti, have lost powers. The same situation will be faced by Kumaraswamy in the future,” he warned.

Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath said Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara had warned of stringent action against those who post derogatory remarks against Tipu on social media. “But ‘Mangaluru Darshana,’ the book released by Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), has reference to the tyranny of Tipu. Will the State government book a case against former district in charge minister Ramanath Rai who had released the book?” he asked.

Kamath said when Tipu couldn’t conquer erstwhile Kodagu kingdom he treacherously killed many Hindus and Kodavas at Devatiparambu in the district. “Several Okkaliga families from Mysuru region had migrated to Tamil Nadu during Tipu’s rule unable to bear his torture,” he said.

MLA alleged that Tipu had destroyed many temples and churches in Mangaluru and Kodagu district. It is a tragedy that the State government is observing Tipu jayanti under police protection.

The MLA said that Tipu was anti-Kannada and had changed the names of many places including Madikeri, Devanahalli and Mangaluru.

BJP State Spokesperson Sulochana Bhat alleged that Tipu had demolished more than 27 churches. One of the churches in Aikala was saved because of the Bunt community. Even to this date, the Christian community honours them during the annual celebration of the Church. “Unfortunately, the state government is engaged in glorifying Tipu,” She added.

Mangaluru City North MLA Dr Y Bharath Shetty said, “The State government had asked all the MLAs to set aside Rs 25 lakh from MLALAD for the reconstruction of Kodagu district ravaged by floods. In fact, the state government should utilise the money being spent for observing Tipu jayanti in the district for the welfare of flood victims in Kodagu.”