Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has decided to skip the state event to celebrate the birth anniversary of erstwhile Mysuru’s ruler, Tipu Sultan, on Saturday. As per information released by the state chief minister office, Kumaraswamy has been advised to take rest for three days, i.e. November 9-11. “He will spend time with family on these days and there will be no official engagements on these days”, an official in the CMO said.
The event will be launched by deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara of the Congress. Meanwhile, hours before the celebrations on Saturday, protests broke out in Madikeri against the state-sponsored Tipu Jayanti event, with protesters and police personnel clashing. Congress’ Brijesh Kalappa alleged that the protest was sponsored by the BJP. Section 144 has been imposed in the area after the protests.
On Tuesday, Kumaraswamy, while addressing the media after the state by-polls results were declared, said, “I never said do or don’t celebrate Tipu Jayanti. All I had said was there are many communities in the country; people want to celebrate Jayanti of their leaders. If they (BJP) don’t like to be part of the celebrations, there is no need to participate.”
Previously, Kumaraswamy had opposed the celebration of Tipu Jayanti but since coming into an alliance with the Congress in Karnataka, has stuck to plans to host the event. The birth anniversary celebrations of Tipu Sultan, the 18th-century ruler of the princely state of Mysuru, have been held on November 10 by the state government since 2014.