Security has been tightened across Karnataka for the big day
The Congress government in Karnataka is celebrating the birth anniversary of 18th century ruler Tipu Sultan for the third year. Security has been tightened across Karnataka on Friday to ensure peaceful celebration of the state-sponsored Tipu Sultan Jayanti in honour of the erstwhile Mysore ruler amid protests by the right-wing opposition. Additional forces, including the paramilitary troopers have been deployed in Bengaluru, Kodagu, Mandya, Mysuru and Mangaluru across the southern region to prevent incidents and disruption of normal life.
Tipu Sultan was also known as the “Tiger of Mysore”. He is not widely admired in the Kodagu district of Karnataka. He was recently described as a “brutal killer, miserable fanatic and mass rapist” by Union Minister Anant kumar Hegde of the BJP, who asked for his name to be dropped from state government invites to this year’s Tipu Sultan event. The Bharatiya Janata Party and various right-wing organizations are against the festival.
Tipu was killed in a battle with the British Army in 1799 while defending his fort at Srirangapatnam near Mysore, about 120km from Bengaluru. Tipu’s 267th birth anniversary is also being celebrated with special functions at his birth place in Devanahalli village on Bengaluru outskirts and in cities and towns that were a part of his kingdom in the Deccan region.
Vigil has been stepped up across the state to maintain law and order and ensure peace for the Tipu festival. Processions and protest rallies against the Jayanti (fest) have been banned. Additional Director General of Police Kamal Pant told reporters, “Liquor sale also banned for the day”.
The ruling Congress began celebrating the birth anniversary of the 18th century Mysore ruler on November 10 since 2015 to honor him as a patriot and remember his yeoman service to the people in the region.
In the state capital, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the event titled “Hazarath Tipu Sultan Jayanthi” at 6.30 p.m. at Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, in the presence of dignitaries and invitees.
The brutal protests which took place in 2015 against the event claimed one life. To prevent a repeat of violent protests that claimed one life in 2015, the police imposed a ban order under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code at Madikeri town in Kodagu district, about 270km from here.
Pant said, “The bans restrict assembling of more than five persons and maintain law and order in the specific area. We will impose the banning as a precautionary measure at other places if required to ensure peace.”
Lots of people are calling it a “shameful event” which supposedly glorifies a “brutal killer” and “mass rapist”, Hedge clearly conveyed to the state government that his name should be not is included on the list of invitees for Tipu Jayanti celebrations.
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