Accusing certain writers of maligning Tipu Sultan’s image under the influence of right-wing outfits, noted writer and novelist Kum. Veerabhadrappa has underlined the need to assess Tipu’s contribution and propagate his values in order to have a secular society.
“Tipu was a great patriot and was a strong believer in secular values. He respected people of all religions and communities. He was a Muslim, but he protected temples and also got new temples built. Therefore, in order to strengthen the secular credentials of the State, we must follow his beliefs,” he said.
Dr. Veerabhadrappa was delivering a lecture on Tipu Sultan at a seminar organised by the district chapter of the Tipu Sultan Sangharsha Samiti here on Sunday.
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‘Baseless propaganda’
Criticising writers such as M. Chidananda Murthy and S.L. Bhyrappa for making “anti-Tipu” statements, Dr. Veerabhadrappa said that such writers have not read history. These writers were creating “baseless” propaganda against Tipu because they had the patronage of the Bharatiya Janata Party government.
About the Union government’s proposal to establish a university at Srirangapatna named after Tipu, which is being opposed by these writers, Dr. Veerabhadrappa said that considering the contribution of Tipu to the nation, not just the university, but even Bengaluru International Airport should be named after Tipu Sultan.
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Earlier, in his address, the former Union Minister and Congress leader C.M. Ibrahim said the British had followed a policy of ‘divide and rule’. “Unfortunately, ever after Independence, some writers are carrying out the same policy,” he said.
He called upon the Muslim community not to get carried away by the statements of writers such as Mr. Murthy.
President of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat Mallikarjun Yendigeri, AHINDA leader and S. M. Patil were present.