Tipu Sultan, also known as the Tiger of Mysore is back in headlines after President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday praised the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore saying he died a "historic death" fighting the British, days after a central minister called the former Mysore ruler a "brutal killer and mass rapist".

President Kovind in Karnataka Assembly said that Tipu Sultan was a pioneer in use of Mysore rockets warfare.

"He was also a pioneer in the development of Mysore rockets (iron-casted rockets for military use)," Kovind said addressing the legislators in the Karnataka Assembly at a joint session to mark the diamond jubilee (60th year) celebrations of Vidhan Soudha, the state legislative building.