The Karnataka government's plans to celebrate the birth anniversary of? Tipu Sultan, the 18th-century ruler of the princely state of Mysuru, next month has already run into troubled waters.
Union Minister of State for Skill Development Anantkumar Hegde has asked the Karnataka government to leave him out of any events related to the celebrations.
BCCL/ File
"(I have) Conveyed (to) Karnataka government not to invite me to the shameful event of glorifying a person known as a brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist," he said.
The BJP has also distanced itself from the celebrations on November 10th.
"Tipu was anti-Kannada & anti-Hindu, all the Kannadigas are opposing Tipu Jayanti celebration," BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje said.?
ANI
Reacting to the development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said invitation for Tipu Jayanti celebration will be sent out to all central and state leaders, and it is up to them to accept or reject it.
Accusing the BJP of making it a political issue, Siddaramaiah added that Tipu had fought four wars against the British.
ANI
This is not the first time the Tipu Jayanti celebrations in Karnataka has courted controversy.
Ever since the Karnataka government began celebrating the day two years ago, the BJP and RSS have vehemently opposed it calling it "minority appeasement".
BCCL/ File
Some had also pointed out that the birth anniversary of Tipu falls on 20 November and that 10 November was the day he hanged 700 Melkote Iyengars.
Despite the protests and violence in the past, the state government is all set to proceed with the event for the third consecutive year.