“Tipu Sultan who grew beyond the boundaries of caste and religion earned the love of people of all communities and he is an asset of the land of Kannadigas,” C.S. Shivalli, Kundagol MLA, said here on Saturday.
Inaugurating the Tipu Jayanti celebration in Dharwad on Saturday, Mr. Shivalli said although Tipu Jayanti was celebrated since long, some vested interests had begun creating trouble after the State made it a government programme.
Mr. Shivalli said unfounded allegations were being made against the Mysore ruler who stood for secular values and fought against the British. He said like Kittur Queen Chennamma Sangolli Rayanna, Veera Madakari Nayak and others, Tipu was an asset of the land and symbol of country’s pride.
“Tipu Sultan was never anti-Hindu and it was evident from a proper study of historical documents and evidence,” he said.
Presiding over the function, MLA for Hubballi Dharwad East Constituency Prasad Abbayya said it was regretful that efforts were being made to distort history.
Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad Deepa Cholan read out the message of District-in-charge minister R.V. Deshpande on the occasion. Historian M.Y. Sawanth delivered a talk on life and achievements of Tipu Sultan.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Shivalli inaugurated the celebrations held at Mini Vidhanasoudha in Hubballi.
On the occasion meritorious students who had scored high marks in SSLC examinations were felicitated.
