Bengaluru: Launching a scathing attack on BJP leaders for opposing the celebration of Tipu Jayanti, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday declared that the Jayanti would be celebrated on a much grander scale from next year. Speaking after inaugurating the celebration here on Friday, Mr. Siddaramaiah said due to security reasons, the government had decided to celebrate the Jayanti in a simple manner at the Banquet Hall of Vidhana Soudha, but from next year, Tipu Jayanti would be celebrated right in front of Vidhana Soudha. The Congress will return to power in the 2018 elections and hold the event on a bigger scale, he asserted.
Terming Tipu a great nationalist and a fighter, Mr Siddaramaiah said BJP leaders have unleashed a malicious campaign against the erstwhile ruler of Mysuru, dubbing him communal and cruel, which are false. Some people who claim to be researchers, too are opposing Tipu, he said adding, “I suggest that they re-read history,” without naming researcher Dr Chidananda Murthy,
The CM condemned BJP leaders for their ‘double speak’ saying when they were in power, they had attended Tipu Jayanti functions and praised him but now, they were opposing him because of vote bank pressures. He recalled how B.S. Yeddyurappa in his earlier avatar as KJP president, had praised Tipu to the sky and was now suggesting that the government make Tipu Jayanti a private affair.
To send out a message to BJP leaders opposing Tipu Jayanti, JD(S) rebel MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan brought more than three thousand people to Vidhana Soudha for the programme. Seeing the large crowd at the Soudha gates, the policemen on duty were shocked and immediately closed all four gates besides summoning additional policemen, including KSRP platoons.
But thousands of people had already entered the lawns and a scuffle broke out between them and the police leaving flower pots and barricades broken. The crowd even demanded that the Chief Minister invite Mr Zameer Ahmed to the dais.
