‘Tipu Sultan is Not a True Muslim, then Why Celebrate Tipu Jayanti’- BJP during Protest
Mangaluru: Ahead of Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary, local BJP leaders protesting in front of DC’s office on Friday, 9 November blaming the government for dividing the community said that the state government’s decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti is a gimmick to appease the Muslim community. Inaugurating the protest, Brijesh Chowta, the General Secretary, BJP District Committee addressing the protesters said, “Our CM Kumaraswamy’s decision to continue the celebration of Tipu Sultan which was initiated by former CM Siddaramaih is nothing but to appease Muslim community. But few Muslims themselves have said that Tipu Sultan is not a true Muslim and have urged the government not to give more importance to Him or his Birth Anniversary celebrations”.
Chowta further said “But sadly CM Kumaraswamy without knowing and going depth into these facts these facts, is proclaiming Tipu as a Saint, and wants to celebrate Tipu Jayanti. But when large number of citizens of Karnataka are against celebrating Tipu Jayanti, why is then the government going ahead with the programme. By celebrating Tipu Jayanti, the government is supporting communal people, murderers and those who were responsible in dividing the community. We condemn state government’s decision, and we will be boycotting the celebrations even though it is a government programme, since we don’t intend in supporting Tipu Jayanti. BJP MLAs have already sent letters to the government stating that they will skip the event, for the fact that Tipu Sultan is a communal leader”.
Also speaking during the protest, Robert Rosario, member of Kraistara Rashtriya Okkuta said, “No doubt that Tipu was a murderer and he has tortured people from Christian and even Hindu communities. It is learnt that Tipu had killed over sixty thousand Christians and destroyed several churches in South Canara then, but it was Hindus who came forward and saved a few Churches, which are still existing. Tipu’s aim was to build his own empire, and he had forcibly converted thousands of Christians to Islam. Our CM is doing a big blunder in going ahead and celebrating Tipu Jayanti, thereby hurting the sentiments of Christians and Hindus, alike. What if some one comes forward and asks the government to celebrate Kasab Jayanthi or Veerappan Jayanti, with backing by Naxals- will the government accept their demands. So we urge the state government to immediately withdraw their decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti.”
Two BJP leaders at the protest speaking to Team Mangalorean said that the state government should celebrate former president APJ Abdul Kalam’s birthday instead of Tipu Jayanti. We are opposing this (Tipu Jayanti). Nobody will appreciate this celebration. Government’s intention behind the Tipu Jayanti celebration is just to satisfy the people of the Muslim community. Even within the Congress and JD(S), people are opposing this. Several other BJP leaders claim Tipu Sultan was against Kannada language and anti-Hindu. He had fought against the British and died in 1799 while defending his capital Srirangapatna, present-day Mandya, in Karnataka. Several leaders of the BJP, however, claim that the ruler was “against Kannada language and anti-Hindu” and thus flay the state government for celebrating his birth anniversary.
Many other BJP leaders were present during the protest.