Why Twitterati want Tipu Express renamed?

Bengaluru, Aug 28: The Tippu Express is a superfast train running between Bangalore and Mysore in India. It covers a distance of 139 km in 2.5 hours with two stops Kengeri and Mandya. This train is named after Tipu Sultan who ruled Kingdom of Mysore and died at the Battle of Srirangapatna in 1799.

Tipu Sultan, also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the son of Sultan Hyder Ali of Mysore and ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1783 to 1799.

This train leaves Mysore at 11:30 hrs and reaches Bangalore at 14:00 hrs; it leaves Bangalore City at 15:00 hrs & reaches Mysore at 17:30 hrs. Previously the train used to depart Mysore Junction at 11:00 and reach Bangalore city at 1:30, the only non-stop train between Mysore and Bangalore (only stop at Mandya). Nowadays its reaching Mysore between 17.15 and 17.30, as the double track work is completed.

Tipu's legacy has often been a matter of debate for historians as there is a huge population in present-day Karnataka who despise the ruler for his atrocities towards Hindus, including the conversion of Hindus to Islam.

Recently the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti demanded that the Tipu Express running between Bengaluru and Mysuru be renamed after Krishnaraja Wodeyar and Sir M Visvesvaraya.

The plea comes in the backdrop of the BJP government in Karnataka dropping the annual state celebration of Tipu Jayanti after Yediyurappa took over as the chief minister last month.

The samiti said renaming the train would be a tribute to Wodeyar and Visvesvaraya, who had contributed in spreading irrigation and electricity networks in the state.

The BJP government in Karnataka last month scrapped the birth anniversary celebrations of the controversial 18th century ruler of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom, Tipu Sultan. The government issued an order cancelling the "TipuJayanti" celebrations, initiated by the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government as an annual affair on November 10 in 2015.

The celebrations were continued by the Congress-JD(S)coalition government led by H D Kumaraswamy, which collapsed on July 23, losing a vote of confidence in the assembly, paving the way for the installation of the BJP ministry.

Kodagu district was marred by widespread protests and violence during the first official celebration in 2015, during which Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) worker Kuttappa had died.

BJP and right wing organisations have been stronglyopposing, Tipu Jayanti, calling the erstwhile Mysore king a "religious bigot".

Not only this, even renaming of Tippu Express is now trending on social media with hastags #RenameTippuExpress. Check out some of the tweets: