The day after winning trust vote on the floor of the Assembly, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday scrapped Tipu Jayanti celebrations by the State Government.
The BJP has been opposing the birth anniversary of the controversial 18th century ruler of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom since 2015 when the annual event was launched during the Congress rule.
Within three days after coming to power, the Yediyurappa Government issued an order cancelling the “Tipu Jayanti” celebrations, initiated by the Siddaramaiah led Congress Ministry as an annual affair on November 10, 2015 amid protest by the BJP.
The celebrations were continued by the Congress-JD(S) coalition Government.
According to the official order, Virajpet BJP MLA KG Bopaiah wrote to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa requesting him to cancel Tipu Jayanti celebrations by the State Kannada and Culture Department, highlighting opposition to such celebrations, particularly in Kodagu district, and the violence it had led to in the past.
The MLA had submitted a petition stating that there had been violence during the celebrations in the past and it should not be repeated.
The first official celebration in 2015 was marred by widespread protests and violence in Kodagu district, leaving a VHP worker Kuttappa dead.
BJP and right-wing organisations have been strongly opposing Tipu Jayanti, calling the erstwhile Mysore king a “religious bigot” who persecuted Hindus and other non-Muslims.
Meanwhile, calling the BJP Government’s decision a big crime, former Chief Minister Siddarmaiah said Tipu was not some one who just belonged to minority community, but he was the king of Mysuru, who fought against the British and was a great patriot.
Tipu was a ruler of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore and considered an implacable enemy of the British East India Company. He was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort at Srirangapatna against the British forces.
Tipu Sultan, however, is a controversial figure in Kodagu district as Kodavas (Coorgis), a martial race, believe thousands of their men and women were seized and held captive during his occupation and subjected to torture, death and forcible conversion to Islam.
He was also accused of execution of Mandyam Iyengars at the temple town of Melkote in Mandya district on the day of Deepavali, as they supported the then Maharaja of Mysuru.