Bengaluru: Unlike state BJP leaders who are intent on making Tipu Sultan Jayanti a controversial issue, Union minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs, Venkaiah Naidu said that a peaceful debate should be conducted whether Tipu Jayanti was needed or not.
Addressing media persons here on Friday, Mr Naidu said that he will not comment on the ongoing saga on Tipu Jayanti. But before conducting such an event, a peaceful debate should be organized.
He also wondered if the Jayanti celebration should be held during Deepavali festival. Mr Naidu felt writer Girish Karnad's view on naming the International Airport after Tipu Sultan was totally uncalled for. No one can demean the contribution of Kempegowda to Bengaluru, he said.
Ban orders extended in Hassan
The bandh call given by Vishwa Hindu Parishad to protest the killing of their leader Kuttappa did not disrupt normal life on Friday.
The police had arrested Sri Rama Sena chief Pramod Mutalik who was at a hotel in the city on Thursday evening and also picked-up several persons for questioning. As a precautionary measure, police had imposed prohibitory order under section 144 in Hassan on Thursday after group clash erupted and the orders would remain for three more days, said Additional Superintendent of Police Shobha Rani.
The ASP told Deccan Chronicle that police personnel have been deployed at convenient places besides picketing points, deployment of platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police and District Armed Reserve forces to thwart any untoward incidents. Since, there was section 144 imposed, the ASP said, no bandh was forced on the residents. IGP Southern Range Sharat Chandra visited Hassan and said that the situation was under control in Hassan. Barring a few places, shops and commercial establishments shut down on Friday while things swung back to normal by afternoon.
Meanwhile, leaders of BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal accused the police of acting to the tunes of the Congress party which is in power in the state and have arrested persons who are in way connected with the group clash in Hassan on Thursday evening wherein two-wheelers were set on fire besides damages four-wheelers. Members of two communities came to blows before police swung into action to control the situation for escalating.
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