Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has warned that strict action will be taken against those who take the law into their hands on the much publicised Tipu Jayanti celebrations scheduled on November 10.
He said on Tuesday that action will be taken against those who attempts to disturb peace during Tipu Jayanti in the name of caste and religion. For the past two years, the Congress Government in Karnataka led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is celebrating Tipu Jayanti and many say it was part of appeasement politics of Siddaramaiah. The BJP is opposing the celebration and threaten to protests against the Government.
He said, “BJP is playing double standard. When in power senior leader including former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok and other leaders had participated and celebrated Tipu Jayanti, but now opposing it as though it was Congress which has started the programme.”
“The BJP leaders are trying to divide the society. Yeddyurappa had praised Tipu Sultan when he was in the KJP. This shows his double standards,” he said when asked about the BJP threatening to launch a protest against the Government’s decision to organise the Jayanti.
Siddaramaiah said the BJP is misleading people on Tipu Sultan. Tipu was born in Devanahalli near Bengaluru and died while fighting against British forces. “The BJP should not try to twist history”, he added.
Referring to BJP lok Sabha member Pratap Simha's statement that those who appreciate Tipu Sultan should be hanged, Siddaramaiah said that "the statement was uncalled for and shows that he has no respect to the country's Constitution on which he took Oath after getting elected. Siddaramaiah said the Government will go ahead with the celebrations.
Referring to recent raids by IT officials on Congress leaders, Ministers and State Officers, Siddaramaiah said that the raids clearly showed that it was politically motivated. "Why IT raids was not held against BJP State president BS Yeddyurappa or BJP lok Sabha member Shobha Kharandlje or any other leaders of that party. Does it mean that they are all very clean and not indulged in corruption'' he asked.
During last year’s celebration of Tipu Jayanti there was a widespread protest by the BJP and in Madikeri two people died during the protest.
The Tipu Jayanti celebrations has a become a major political issue between ruling congress which is playing appeasement politics to the hilt and the BJP which is opposing the celebrations tooth and nail. As the ensuing assembly polls to the State is crucial for both the parties , celebration of Tipu Jayanti has become a major controversy to gain mileage by them.
In fact, Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde courted a major controversy by asking the State Government not to include his name as per the protocol in the Tipu Jayanti celebrations.
“Conveyed (to) Karnataka government not to invite me to shameful event of glorifying a person known as brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist,” Hegde tweeted.