Catholic body criticises K'taka Minister for anti-Tipu remarks

Bangalore, Sep 22 (UNI) The All India Catholic Union today decried Karnataka Higher Education Minister D H Shankaramurthy belittling 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan, who had waged a war against the British to protect the sovereignty of the State.

In a statement here, Union President Dr John Dayal termed the criticism as ''uncalled for'' and said it smacked of ''Hindu chauvinism under the tutelage of the Sangh Parivar''.

''At a time when indigenous kings and princelings, some of whose descendants are BJP Chief Ministers, were selfishly aligning with the British imperial forces, Tipu had the courage and the skills to challenge the English military might,'' he recalled.

Criticising the decision of the Karnataka Government to overnight derecognise thousands of schools teaching English, he said it was an attempt to deny the Dalits and weaker sections of the society the privilege of studying English.

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