Conveyed #KarnatakaGovt NOT to invite me to shameful event of glorifying a person known as brutal killer, wretched… https://t.co/eXLVtf8cAq — Anantkumar Hegde (@AnantkumarH) 1508511030000

Keep me out of Tipu Jayanti celebrations: Anant Kumar Hegde

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State for Skill Development Anantkumar Hegde has categorically informed top officials of the Karnataka government to leave him out of any events in celebration of Tipu Jayanti In a letter addressed to the chief secretary of state and the deputy commissioner of Uttara Kannada, Hegde has directed them not to include his name in programme invitations to mark the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan on November 10."(I have) Conveyed (to) Karnataka government not to invite me to shameful event of glorifying a person known as brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist," the BJP leader said in a tweet.Hegde, a five-time member of Parliament for Uttara Kannada, has been a vocal critic of the ruling Congress party and vehemently opposed the state-sponsored celebrations of Tipu Jayanti since its introduction in 2015. However, protocol mandates that his name be included in invites for all government events held in the district.Chief minister Siddaramaiah censured Hegde for distancing himself from the festivities and accused him of politicizing the issue."As part of government, he shouldn't have written it. Invitation (for Tipu Jayanti celebration) will be sent out to all central and state leaders, up to them to accept or reject," Siddaramaiah told ANI."It is being made into a political issue. There were four wars against the British and Tipu fought them all," he added, trotting out the government's official line that the 18th century ruler was a "freedom fighter" who helped liberate India from the yoke of colonialism.The Karnataka government’s decision to celebrate the day on 10 November was termed unwarranted by many, with the BJP and RSS slamming the decision as "minority appeasement". Some had also pointed out that the birth anniversary of Tipu falls on 20 November and that 10 November was the day he hanged 700 Melkote Iyengars.Widespread protests and violence have marred the celebrations for the last two years, but the state government is all set to proceed with the event for the third consecutive year.Earlier this year, Hegde made headlines after he thrashed two doctors and a worker at a private hospital in Sirsi. The BJP MP was angry that they didn't attend to his ailing mother on priority.