After dominating Karnataka politics for a few years, the row over Tipu Sultan reached Delhi on Friday as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal unveiled a portrait of 18th century Mysore ruler on the Republic Day.
After dominating Karnataka politics for a few years, the row over Tipu Sultan reached Delhi on Friday as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal unveiled a portrait of 18th century Mysore ruler on the Republic Day.
Tipu Sultan's portrait was among 70 other personalities, including revolutionaries, freedom fighters, and heroes, unveiled by the Delhi CM as he criticised the "atmosphere of violence" disrupting normal life in the country.
The portraits of Ashfaqullah Khan, Bhagat Singh, Rani Chennamma, Birsa Munda and Subhash Chandra Bose were also unveiled. The portraits will be put up in galleries of the Delhi assembly.
These portraits are two-and-a-half feet long, and one-and-a-half feet wide mentioning the description of the personality in brief and their contribution towards the nation.
Putting up Tipu Sultan's portrait in the Assembly has become a point of contention with the BJP opposing the move. BJP legislator Om Prakash Sharma said the Delhi Assembly should refrain from putting up the portrait of a controversial personality.
The opposition, however, did not go down well with Assembly speaker Ram Niwas Goel, who said the BJP leaders "always try to create controversy on any issue".
"I want to tell them (BJP) that the Constitution of India also carries a picture of Tipu Sultan on its page number 144. So, either the people, who fought British to free the country and wrote this Constitution, were 'Gaddaar' (traitor) or they (BJP) are the ones," Goel said.
He said the BJP should leave this "cheap" politics and work for development.
In recent years, Tipu Sultan has become a controversial figure, especially in Karnataka where much of a politics has been played over him. Top BJP leaders, including Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, have slammed Congress-led Karnataka government for celebrating the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan.
Atmosphere of violence being created everywhere, says Kejriwal
In his Republic Day address, Kejriwal said it was tough to get Independence, but seeing the current scenario in the country it seemed that maintaining that freedom is even more difficult.
He said the "atmosphere of violence" is being created everywhere which is making it tough for many people to lead a normal life.
"Opening more schools and hospitals to provide better education and healthcare facilities, bridging the gap between the rich and the poor, developing infrastructure is real patriotism," he said.
Addressing the gathering, the chief minister said traders, farmers and labourers are unhappy because of the circumstances.
"In this scenario doing business is becoming tough. No country can progress if it lacks peace.
Maintaining peace and harmony is the first job of any government. Divisive forces work against the country," he said.
(With PTI inputs)
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