Pramoda Devi

BELAGAVI/BENGALURU: Hours after a senior member of the Mysuru royal family conceded Tipu Sultan had unleashed trouble on Wadiyars, the coalition government on Wednesday defended its decision to hold the birth anniversary of the erstwhile Mysore ruler.

The development comes five days after Tipu Jayanti in Karnataka turned out to be a Congress-only event, with the JD(S) staying away and the BJP holding protests.

Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy denied confusion over holding the event, and said the celebrations were started by the previous Congress government and they will continue it in a peaceful manner.

Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the royal family weighed in on the controversy, conceding that Tipu had created problems for the Wadiyars. “As a member of the royal family and as an individual, I am not in favour of the government sponsored Tipu Jayanti celebrations,” she said on the sidelines of a function in Belagavi.

However, she added a caveat that the royal family will not take any stand on the issue and will remain neutral. “Our family suffered a lot during Tipu rule,” she added.

“I don’t know the rationale behind the government celebrating Tipu Jayanti. Maybe, it thinks the protestations of a family do not count,” she said.

Deputy chief minister G Parameshwara said there are voices for and against any government event, and Tipu Jayanti was no different. “We’ll continue with the celebrations in the future.”

‘Not interested in politics’

Pramoda Devi said she was not interested in politics though all three major parties of Karnataka have been approaching the family for the past 15 years.

Not in favour of govt-sponsored Tipu celebrations

Our family suffered a lot during Tipu rule. I don’t know the rationale behind the government conducting Tipu Jayanti. Maybe, it thinks the protestations of a family do not count. As a member of the royal family and as an individual, I am not in favour of government-sponsored Tipu celebrations

Pramoda Devi Wadiyar |

ROYAL FAMILY MEMBER

