Siddaramaiah's decision to celebrate Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary irks ministers

BENGALURU/BELAGAVI: The state government’s decision to celebrate Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary on November 10, which triggered violent protests in some districts, has irked a significant section of ministers.

These ministers, who spoke to Deccan Chronicle on condition of anonymity, felt there it unnecessary for the government to go ahead with the celebrations on the eve of zilla and taluk panchayat polls. None of the previous governments took the initiative to organise such celebrations because Tipu Sultan was a controversial ruler, but Chief Minister Siddaramaiah went ahead with his decision without figuring out the consequences, they added. They said that the BJP, which had taken a severe beating after the row over consumption of beef, has grabbed the opportunity to attack the state government.

The government was aware of strong opposition to Tipu Sultan jayanti celebrations particularly in Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts in view of allegations of forceful conversion, massacre of Hindus and destruction of churches.

Therefore, it ought to have entrusted the responsibility of organizing the event to department of Kannada and Culture instead of department of minorities. Besides, the Chief Minister ought to have arrived at a consensus after discussing the issue with leaders of all political parties and organized the celebrations on different dates across the state. The statement of Dr Girish Karnad at an official function in Vidhana Soudha on renaming the international airport has added to the ire of people.

“As ministers, we have to defend the government publicly but we are totally unhappy over the celebrations,” they added.

The ministers felt that certain leaders close to the Chief Minister had offered wrong advise because they failed to understand prevailing situation in the state, and also erred by advancing the date of birth anniversary by ten days to coincided with Deepavali festival. They pointed out that the government headed by Mr Siddaramaiah had added ten birth anniversary celebrations over the last two and a half years, all of which were being celebrated as official events.

Nothing wrong in holding Sultan fest: Patil Puttappa

Amid protests by leaders of BJP and right-wing organisations against Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary celebrations, veteran journalist Patil Puttappa said there was nothing wrong in organizing such events as he was a he was patriotic ruler of Kannada land.

“Tipu never hated Hindus, nor did he perpetrate atrocities on them as a ruler of Mysore province. No records or historical findings are available to support the claims being made that he perpetrated atrocities on Hindus,” Mr Puttappa told the media in Belagavi on Saturday. A brave ruler, Tipu had named Purnaiah, a Hindu as his minister in his cabinet.

The anniversaries of Basavanna, Rani Chennamma and other such revolutionary personalities are being celebrated by government and therefore there was nothing wrong in celebrating Tipu’s anniversary, he added.

An arch rival of British rulers, Tipu was a patriot who fought against mighty British rulers. As he was their rival, Britishers made false records of his atrocities, he stated.

Although, some people claimed that records of Tipu's atrocities were available at London Museum, the records did not portray him accurately, he said adding that such allegations levelled against the ruler were unfair.

Tipu was a servant of French: Subramanian Swamy

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Satuday described Tipu Sultan as a “servant of the French” and said the 18th century ruler of Mysore had no qualities for his memory to be celebrated.

“His (Tipu) supporters say he fought the British, well he fought the British not as an independent entity, he fought the British as what I would say as the servant of the French,” Swamy said.

He said, “Napolean had arrived in Africa. He was confident of winning the war there and he wanted to come to India, so there was an alliance made by the French and Tipu Sultan to fight the British together.”

“Of course, Napolean lost the war and ended up also losing his position in France. But there is nothing to say that this man (Tipu) has any qualities for which we can celebrate his memory,” Swamy told reporters after a ‘discussion’ organised by “The Open Platform for Netaji.”

The state government decided to celebrate Tipu Sultan's birth anniversary from this year with the main event held here on November 10. The celebration amidst protest from a few pro-Hindu outfits had lead to death of two persons in Kodagu.

Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.