Following deaths of two people in violence over 18th century ruler Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary celebrations, the BJP on Thursday demanded the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister for his “inability to handle the law and order” situation in the State.
The party took a swipe at Congress chief Sonia Gandhi also asking if she will now lead a march and seek Siddaramaiah’s ouster. Sonia had on November 3 led a march of its top leaders to Rashtrapati Bhavan to protest against the alleged intolerance in the country and had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “endorsing” incidents of hate.
Using the Hindi phrase “ulta chor kotwal ko dante” (pot calling the kettle black) to dismiss BJP’s demand for Siddaramaiah’s resignation, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged “the BJP is spreading hatred across the country”.
“Rather than learn from the crushing defeat in Bihar, the BJP has become more arrogant and is more obsessed with its agenda of spreading the poison of hatred,” he said.
On the other hand, the BJP said Siddaramaiah was unable to handle the law and order situation, and sought a probe into the death threats made against playwright Girish Karnad and its MP Prathap Simha.
Karnad and BJP MP Simha received threats on social media. Karnad was conveyed online that he would meet with the same fate as rationalist MM Kalburgi, who was gunned down recently by two men at his residence in Dharwad in north Karnataka, “if he enrages Kannadigas” with such comments.
The VHP, for its part, has given a call for an hour-long Statewide ‘rasta roko’ protest on Friday against the Madikeri incident and demanded a Rs25 lakh compensation for the family of the deceased.
Tipu is in the eye of a storm after the State Congress Government decided to organise the Mysuru ruler’s 165th birth anniversary celebrations leading to protests from the BJP and right wing groups.
Actor-writer Girish Karnad added fuel to the fire by suggesting that Bengaluru airport be named after Tipu. The airport is named after Kempe Gowda, a feudatory ruler under the Vijayanagara empire who founded Bengaluru in 1537. Karnad apologised later.
Reacting to the controversy, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu pooh-poohed suggestions that the Bengaluru airport should have been named after Tipu and not city’s founder Gowda.
“Decision has been made to name Bengaluru airport after him. Public has also welcomed this decision. Now taking up again the same issue and suggesting different names do not have any meaning. There is no point in discussing now after the airport has been named after a great person who was instrumental creating Bangalore city.
“Secondly, the Government (Karnataka) before taking any steps should keep in mind the public sentiment. Thirdly, nobody should add fuel to the fire,” Naidu told reporters.
Two people, including a bystander were killed on Tuesday after violence erupted as the supporters of the celebrations and those protesting clashed. The Karnataka Government has announced an enquiry into the violence by the Regional Commissioner in Mysuru.
But, BJP MP Simha has questioned the Government and police version that Kuttappa had died in a fall while jumping a boundary wall. The MP has been severely critical of Tipu amidst claims of “persecution” of Hindus during his rule.
Simha said despite having registered a complaint with police on Tuesday, the day he received the threat, “till now nothing has been done”.
The post on a Facebook page, ‘Mysuru Tiger Shahide Millat Mahan Tippu Sultan’ allegedly showed Simha’s photograph next to that of Kuttappa and threatened he will meet the same fate as the VHP leader if he continues to play politics by making “anti-Muslim comments”.
Referring to the alleged death threats received by Karnad and Simha, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra sought a probe into it. “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah must resign. Two persons have died and he has not been able to handle the law and order situation. Will Sonia Gandhi go to Bengaluru and march against thisIJ Will she demand Siddaramaiah’s resignationIJ” Patra told reporters in New Delhi.