BJP to oppose Tipu fete, Siddaramaiah warns troublemakers

BENGALURU: A confrontation is brewing over the Tipu Jayanti celebrations even as the state government is preparing for it in a big way on November 10 brushing aside the threats from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Sangh Parivar forces, Tipu Jayanti Virodhi Horata Samithi (TJVHS) to resist the celebrations by staging protest rallies in the state.

The TJVHS will be holding protests in all the districts and organising Onake Chaluvali (pestle agitation), torchlight procession and black flag demonstration starting Wednesday and will continue till November 10, said ‘Phataphat’ Srinivas, coordinator of TJVHS. However, he clarified that the protest is neither against Islam or the Muslim community, but against Tipu.  “Instead of Tipu Jayanti, let the government celebrate Shishunala Sharifa Jayanti,” he said.

Meanwhile, CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday warned those opposing Tipu Jayanti of stringent action if they try to disturb communal harmony on the pretext of opposing Tipu Jayanti. “Some people are engaged in sowing the seeds of communal hatred. Such activities will not be tolerated. Stringent action will be taken against them” he said.The CM said that the BJP was using the row as a poll gimmick, adding that BJP leaders had parised Tipu in the past.

Plaint against Hegde, Ravi over Tipu remarks

Bengaluru: A complaint has been filed against Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde and BJP MLA C T Ravi for making controversial statements about Tipu Sultan, while opposing celebration of Tipu Jayanti on November 10. The complainant, Alam Pasha, alleged in the petition that the statement is deliberate and a malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings of Hindus and Muslims and to promote enmity between the two communities. He said the allegations made by the BJP leaders were false and amount to offences under Sections 153-A, 153-B, 295-A and 505(2) of IPC.