Karnataka: Protests against Tipu Sultan's birth anniversary celebration continues for the second day in Karnataka after hundreds of BJP-VHP supporters put up a road blockade at Malleswaram circle in Bengaluru and also demanded stern action against Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad for admiring Tipu Sultan.
Since morning despite rain nearly 300 BJP protesters gathered at the circle and raised their voice against Karnad's remark on Tipu Sultan. On Tuesday, Karnad said that the 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan would have enjoyed the same status as of Maratha king Chhatrapathi Shivaji, if he was a Hindu and not a Muslim.
His statement sparked controversy and drew severe criticism from right wing groups who demanded immediate action against him. Karnad was also criticised for suggesting that Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli should be named after Tipu Sultan rather than Kempegowda, a feudatory ruler under the erstwhile Vijayanagara Empire which founded Bengaluru in 1537.
Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah said, "We have nothing to do with Mr Karnad statement and there is no proposal before us to change airport's name."
On Kodagu incident in which a VHP leader was allegedly killed, he said, "An enquiry by the regional commissioner has been ordered and we have a provision that anyone dying in communal clashes will get a compensation of Rs 5 lakh".
Speaking to CNN-IBN he said, "Tipu sultan was the great ruler like Shivaji, Tipu did the same thing which Shivaji did for Maharashtra. I stand by my remark".
Reacting on the protest march against him, he said, “I don't need VHP to tell me what I need to do. I know what I have to do. Former chief minister Sadananda Gowda had once said that I should be expelled from Karnataka, these types of statements have made them lose Bihar. I have nothing against the protesters, it should go on because I feel that protest is good for democracy”.
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