BJP government in Karnataka hits the ground running banning 'Tipu Jayanti'
The BJP government in Karnataka on Tuesday cancelled the annual birth anniversary celebrations of the controversial 18th century ruler of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom, Tipu Sultan, being organised since 2015.
The new Yediyurappa government's move through an order comes within three days after it came to power and a day after it won the confidence motion in the state assembly.
The Siddaramaiah led Congress government had started the celebration of Tipu Jayanti as an annual affair on November 10 since 2015 and it was continued by the Congress-JD(S) coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy last year despite opposition from BJP and others.
Hailing the decision, BJP's young turk MP Tejasvi Surya said, "
Tippu Sultan was a tyrant who massacred thousands of Hindus and it was shameful the previous Govts felt it was their duty to honour him with a Jayanti.
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) July 30, 2019
Shri @BSYBJP govt now undoing all the wrongs of the mismatched coalition, one master stroke at a time. https://t.co/pL5oplIVjI
He said, "Tippu Sultan was a tyrant who massacred thousands of Hindus and it was shameful the previous Govts felt it was their duty to honour him with a Jayanti. Shri @BSYBJP govt now undoing all the wrongs of the mismatched coalition, one master stroke at a time".
With PTI inputs
1. What does the order say?
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BD Yediyurappa said, "MLAs submitted a plea on the violence that occurred and said that to ensure it is not repeated Tipu Jayanti celebrations should be stopped. We discussed the same in the cabinet meeting the passed an order that Tipu Jayanti should not be celebrated."
According to the order, the decision was taken after Virajpet MLA K G Bopaiah wrote to Yediyurappa requesting him to cancel Tipu Jayanti celebrations organised annually by the state Kannada and Culture Department, highlighting opposition to such celebrations, particularly in Kodagu district.
2. Background behind this order
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Kodagu district was marred by widespread protests and violence during the first official celebration in 2015, during which Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) worker Kuttappa had died.
BJP and right wing organisations had stiffly opposed, Tipu Jayanti celebrations, calling the ruler a "religious bigot".
3. BJP's strong stance on this issue
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Ex- Union Minister Ananth Hedge on several occasions had taken strong views against celebration of Tipu Jayant. He even wrote to Karnataka government then lead by Siddaramaih to exuse him from attending the ceremony.
‘Conveyed #KarnatakaGovt NOT to invite me to shameful event of glorifying a person known as brutal killer, wretched fanatic & mass rapist’, he tweeted
