Tipu Jayanti: Union Minister refuses to attend, but CM to send invitations to all

Union Minister of State for Skill Development Ananth Kumar Hegde has written to the Chief Minister's Secretariat not to include his name in the official invite for Tipu Sultan Jayanthi celebrations scheduled to be held on November 10.

In a letter to the Chief Secretary, Hegde's personal secretary said it was being written on the direction of the Minister. "The instructions may be brought to the notice of all departments in the State celebrating Tipu Jayanti," the letter said. .

Hegde considered Tipu Sultan "anti-Hindu and anti-Kannada" and he did not want to be associated with the birthday celebrations of the former ruler. In 2016 too, Hegde had said he condemned State government celebrating Tipu Jayanti "despite stiff opposition" from a section of the people. Tipu, he claimed, was "against Kannada language and was anti-Hindu".

The state government will celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanthi at the district level across the state on November 10. Hegde also stated in the letter that his name should not be mentioned during the course of the celebration. As a member of Parliament from Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha constituency, protocol mandates that Hegde's name is included in the invite for all government events held in the district.

The last two years, there have been protests against the celebrations, but the state government will go ahead for the third year running this November 10. The union minister has found himself in the middle of a controversy several times. Many of his tweets have also attracted controversy because of their hardline Hindutva views.

Vote bank politics, says Shobha Karandlaje

Udupi-Chikkamagalur MP Shobha Karandlaje on Saturday said that the state government is conducting Tipu jayanti with the intention to garner votes.

Speaking to reporters Karandlaje said that "Tipu was anti-Kannada and anti-Hindu, all the Kannadigas are opposing it". We have told government shouldn't celebrate Tipu Jayanti but they are into vote-bank politics," she said.

"With just five months left before the Assembly elections, the Congress party is playing vote bank politics to attract minorities which is not right," she added.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah censured Hegde for distancing himself from the festivities and accused him of politicizing the issue.

Will send invite, upto the ministers to accept or reject: CM Siddaramaiah

"As part of government, he shouldn't have written it. Invitation (for Tipu Jayanti celebration) will be sent out to all central and state leaders, up to them to accept or reject," Siddaramaiah told ANI.

"It is being made into a political issue. There were four wars against the British and Tipu fought them all," he added, trotting out the government's official line that the 18th century ruler was a "freedom fighter" who helped liberate India from the yoke of colonialism.

OneIndia News