Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday cautioned “anti-social elements” against disturbing communal harmony in the guise of opposing Tipu Jayanti, even as the Tipu Jayanti Virodhi Horata Samiti is launching an agitation on Wednesday objecting to the event to be observed on November 10.
Patapat Srinivas, co-ordinator of the samiti, said they plan to hold protests in all districts and will organise Onake Chaluvali (pestle agitation), torchlight procession and black flag demonstration.
BJP and Sangh Parivar leaders, including Pratap Simha, MP; zonal secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishat S. Gopal, writer Addanda Karyappa, and D.S. Veerayya, MLC, participated in an event organised to plan the protests.
Meanwhile, accusing the BJP and Sangh Parivar of politicising the issue with an eye on the Assembly polls, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: “Some people are engaged in dividing the society. The government will not tolerate any activity of that kind and stringent action will be taken against them.” He said that there was no question of reversing its decision on the celebrations.
He reiterated that BJP leaders B.S. Yeddyurappa and R. Ashok had applauded Tipu Sultan earlier and participated in functions where he was hailed as a national hero.
Another organisation, Tipu Sultan United Front, has appealed to the government to take action against Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde and other BJP leaders who are “conspiring to create communal tension in Karnataka.”
