Tipu Jayanthi: Why is anniversary of bigot being celebrated asks Mohandas Pai

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New Delhi, Nov 2: The state government's plan to celebrate Tipu Jayanthi in Karnataka is like the central government celebrating Aurangazeb's anniversary, said T V Mohandas Pai.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Pai, a Padma Shri awardee and technology investor said that the government is playing politics over the issue.

Amidst much opposition, the government of Karnataka has decided to go ahead with the Tipu Jayanthi celebrations on November 10. The BJP and the RSS have opposed the event and will stage state wide protests on that day.

The government should instead celebrate anniversaries of benevolent rulers such as the Wodeyars and Mysuru Diwan Islamil he also said. I would request the government not to do politics over this issue, he also said.

Read more: Bigot, tyrant, freedom fighter? Karnataka gears up for Tipu Sultan trouble

The government is there to rule the state and it must not do things to divide the state, Pai further observed. As a Konkani, I feel offended that the anniversary of a bigot and a tyrant is being celebrated. Pai went on to state that there is a dark side to Tipu.

He killed many people and converted them by using the sword. The Kodavas are angry with him. In Manguluru, the Christian community because Tipu had put 26,000 Catholics in dungeons. He destroyed Konkani temples near Sulthan Bathery and Kasargod, Pai also said.

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