Tipu Sultan a greater freedom fighter than Gandhi: Jnanaprakash Swamiji

Bengaluru: The remarks by Jnanaprakash Swamiji of Urilingapeddi Mutt, Mysuru, hailing the ruler of erstwhile Mysore Tipu Sultan and placing him above Gandhi, Bhagat Singh and Jawaharlal Nehru in the freedom fighter’s list, has raised many eyebrows and stoked a new controversy.

While addressing a massive gathering during PFI’s grand conference ‘We Also Have Something to Say’ at Palace Ground on Saturday, he said that considering the sacrifices made by Tipu Sultan for the country, his statue should have been installed at Red Fort.

“Tipu Sultan fought the British and even pledged his two sons during the freedom struggle. Gandhi and Nehru did not do it. We should have Tipu’s statue installed atop the Red Fort,” he said, adding, “We have statues of Rani Channamma, Madakari Nayaka and Sangolli Rayanna, why not of freedom fighter Tipu,” he questioned.

Lashing out at BJP, Jnanaprakash Swamiji said, “India has become a kingdom of lies and a country of murderers since the BJP has come to power. Those who were attempting to tell the truth are being silenced through bullets.”

Calling for unity among Muslims, Dalits and Christians, the pontiff said that there was a need to change India for better. “India is not Danagala Bharatha, this is Janagala Bharatha (India is not a country of cows, it’s a country of people). We will build a country of people and you Modi build a country of cows,” he lamented.

The pontiff further said that those who were killing cows were being jailed and those who were killing people were ruling the country. “In India, there is respect for cows, but not human being. Instead of changing India to a better India, the Modi is calling for Congress-free country. Tomorrow he will call for Muslim-free country and then Buddhist and Jains. They have systematically planned everything,” Swamiji said.

Taking a dig at BJP’s slogan ‘Achche Din’, he said it has come only to party president Amith Shah’s son

and Ambani.