Tipu fete: Ananth Kumar Hegde invited as per protocol, says Karnataka CM

Bengaluru: Reacting sharply to a letter written by BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Skill Development Ananth Kumar Hegde to the Chief Minister’s secretary, requesting him to exclude his name from the invitation of Tipu Jayanti celebration organised by the state government, Mr Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that as per protocol, the government cannot drop Mr Hegde’s name from the invitation.

“Mr Hegde’s name will be printed on the invitation cars as per protocol. Whether he attends the event or keeps himself away from it is left to him. We will go ahead with his name on the invitation,” Mr Siddaramaiah told reporters on the sidelines of the Police Commemoration Day at the KSRP Ground in Koramangala on Saturday.

Maintaining that Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, was the first freedom fighter, Mr Siddaramaiah advised Mr Hegde to refer the authentic history of Tipu Sultan and then comment on him.

“Tipu fought the British and started the freedom struggle against them. He (Hegde) should go through the historical facts and then comment on Tipu, rather than giving politically motivated statements,” the CM said.