Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Nov 11: The district BJP on Wednesday November 11 condemned the violence that erupted in Madikeri in the wake of Tipu Jayanti celebrations on Tuesday November 10, in which VHP leader Kuttappa was killed, and alleged that the rally held as part of the celebration was did not have official permission.

Addressing a press meet at the district BJP office here, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "Ever since Tipu Jayanti celebration was announced, peace in society has been disrupted. There have been incidents of violence, and yesterday in Madikeri a rally was conducted in celebration of Tipu Jayanti, in which a VHP leader was killed. This rally was held without permission. It should be noted that a group of people from Kerala had participated in the rally. We condemn this. Lapse on the part of the state government is quite evident here.

"There are two questions that emerge - How was this rally allowed to be held without permission? What was the district administration and the ministers doing, in spite of having information that people had come from different places to take part in this rally? Why they were not stopped?

"Islam does not allow celebration of any jayanti (birth anniversary), except the birthday of Prophet Mohammed. We are not questioning the glory of Tipu Sultan but we oppose the sudden announcement of Tipu Jayanti celebration without discussing the matter in the cabinet," Nalin Kateel said.

"There are recorded incidents in history wherein Christian community had faced atrocities at the hands of Tipu. In yesterday's incident VHP leader Kuttappa was killed - this shows failure of the police department. Moreover, the state government has given irresponsible statements saying that Kuttappa was killed of an accidental fall. I visited the spot and I can say that there is no chance of such a thing happening. There are eyewitnesses to the incident who say he was killed from stone pelting.

"BJP demands the arrest of people who had come from Kerala and all others involved in the rally who are responsible for Kuttappa's death. Also, his family should be given a compensation of Rs 25 lac. We ccondemn the stand of CM Siddarmaiah and the Congress party on this incident. It gives rise to suspicions whether the state government is indirectly supporting such violence. The government should wake up now and ensure that such incidents do not occur again," he said.

He also condemned the statements of noted literary figure Girish Karnad in support of Tipu Sultan, and said, "On the other hand, during the government programme on Tipu Jayanti, literatteur Girish Karnad made a derogatory remark that Bengaluru International Airport should have been named after Tipu Sultan instead of Kempegowda. We strongly condemn this."

He also informed that as bandh has been called on November 13 to protest over Kuttappa's death, BJP's 'Sankalpa Yatra', which was scheduled to be held from November 13 to 22, will now begin on November 14, as the BJP would be supporting the bandh.

Asked whether BJP was not responsible for the trouble over Tipu Jayanti celebrations, he said, "We just made people aware and held a symbolic protest against Tipu Jayanti."

On the Yettinahole project, he said, "MLAs and MLCs from BJP will raise the issue in the coming session. Representatives from all like-minded organizations who are against Yettinahole project will join an all-party delegation to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister on the issue."

District BJP president Pratap Simha Nayak, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, Monappa Bhandary and others were present.