BS Yeddyurappa on Thursday asked the authorities to stop all events planned for November 10. (File)

Days after the Karnataka government announced that it would go ahead with the birth anniversary celebrations of Tipu Sultan, BJP state chief BS Yeddyurappa on Thursday asked authorities to stop all events planned for November 10. Yeddyurappa alleged the government’s intention behind celebrating Tipu Jayanti was to appease the Muslim community.

“We are opposing Tipu Jayanti celebration. Nobody will appreciate this celebration. In the interest of the state, the government must stop it. Government’s intention behind Tipu Jayanti celebration is just to satisfy Muslim community,” the senior BJP leader said in a tweet.

While Tipu Sultan, the 18th-century ruler of Mysore, is considered a freedom fighter by the state government, he is viewed as a religious bigot by the BJP and its affiliates.

Yeddyurappa’s remarks come three days after a government committee under the leadership of Kannada and Culture Minister Jayamala decided that the state would celebrate Tipu Jayanti on November 10 like past years. Jayamala also said that the opposition BJP would be held responsible for any untoward incident during the celebrations.

In fact, ever since the Congress government in 2014 decided to celebrate Tipu Jayanti, the event has been marked by protests and court cases every year. A case has been filed again in the high court this year and the matter is posted for hearing on November 9.

The event reached a boiling point in 2015 when Hindu outfits opposed the celebrations and clashed with Muslim groups in Kodagu district, resulting in two deaths. Ever since the incident,  heavy security has been deployed every year in Kodagu district on November 10.

The celebration of Tipu Jayanti is particularly opposed by people from the Kodagu region citing the historical animosity among the people of the region towards the 18th-century ruler.