The descendants of Tipu Sultan on Monday slammed Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde for his alleged “derogatory” remarks against the 18th century Mysore ruler and are considering legal action against him.
Bakhtiar Ali, one of the sixth-generation descendants of Prince Mooniruddin, who was one of Tipu’s sons, told PTI in Kolkata that the Minister’s comments were “baseless and shameful.”
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“Such derogatory remarks are unacceptable. He is making such cheap comments for his own political gains. We are consulting lawyers and will seek legal action against him. We might file a defamation suit against him,” Mr. Bakhtiar Ali said.
Asked whether they would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against Mr. Hedge, Mr. Ali said, “No, we have no such plans to write to the Prime Minister.”
The BJP Minister, in a tweet on October 21, had asked the Karnataka government not to invite him to the “shameful” event of Tipu Sultan Jayanti on November 10.
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In Bengaluru, Sahabzada Mansoor Ali Tipu, who presents himself as a 7th generation descendant of Tipu Sultan, said he would seek necessary action for Mr. Hegde’s “uncalled for” comments.
He said he would meet Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy in this regard.
“On behalf of the descendants of Tipu Sultan, I am lodging a complaint against Hegde for calling our forefather a mass rapist and brutal killer,” he told PTI.
“Being a Union Minister, he should not have made such irresponsible comments against a ruler who is revered as a hero in Karnataka. I seek an unconditional apology and necessary action against Hegde for his comments,” said Mr. Mansoor Ali, a businessman.
He demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi drop him from his Council of Ministers.