Bengaluru: A day after celebrating Tipu Sultan birth anniversary across the state amid protests by BJP, pro-Hindu and other organisations, Senior Congress leader and State Planning Board Deputy Chairman C.M. Ibrahim said that decision to ask Minorities Department to conduct the celebrations was a big mistake.
Speaking to media persons Ibrahim said that the Kannada and Culture Department should have been asked to conduct the celebrations, instead of the Minority Affairs Department, as this gave an impression that the government is ‘pro-minority’. The authorities should have thought about the consequences, as the chief minister is busy with many other things. The department should have held a symposium on contributions made by Tipu Sultan to Hindu temples by inviting seers of various maths, like Sringeri, Suttur and authorities of Srikanteshwara Temple in Nanjangud Temple.
However he said that holding the birth anniversory was not a mistake and celebrating it would have been used to explain the greatness of the Mysuru King, popularly known as ‘Tiger of Mysuru’ who has singlehandedly fought with British.
“It is wrong to think that the Congress will attract minority votes if it celebrates Tipu Jayanti. Even the BJP will not benefit by holding protests against the celebrations. Of late, there is a lot of awareness among the minority community and they will not be carried away by such celebrations. The BJP is trying to turn this into a big issue as they have lost heavily in the Bihar Assembly elections and are now scouting for new issues to remain in news,” he commented.
He also said that there is evidence at Sringeri Sharadambha Temple that describes how Tipu protected the temple from the onslaught of Maratha rulers and also he had donated for various Hindu temples in the state during his rule.
“Also, Tipu never ascended the throne of Mysuru rulers. Of 16 ministers in the Tipu administration, 11 were Hindus and the minister in chief was Dewan Poornaiah. I would have been the first person to oppose if Tipu was communal and I would have never allowed the government to celebrate Tipu’s birth anniversary. I personally feel there is nothing wrong in celebrating the birth anniversary of great personalities like Tipu Sultan. Still there are number of Hindu families that praise Tipu for helping the Hindu temples in many parts of the state”, he said.
The decison to hold the birth anniversary of Tipu turned out to be a controversial after violence erupted in Madikeri in Kodagu, where Tipu is considered a traitor. The violence claimed the life of Kuttappa and a 20-year old reportedly one Saahul from Chettalli in Kodagu.
Inputs from agencies
