Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)
Bengaluru: Nov 2: “I am a Konkani. Tippu murdered hundreds of people belonging to my community. Tipu destroyed our temples. So, I oppose the government’s decision to organise Tipu Jayanthi,” said Manipal Global Education chairman T V Mohan Das Pai.
Pai was speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, November 1. He also termed Tipu as fundamentalist.
"The state government's plan to celebrate Tipu Jayanthi is like the central government celebrating the anniversary of Aurangzeb, who was a tyrant Mughal Emperor and a staunch religious fundamentalist," Pai added.
“Tipu forcibly converted a large number of people in Kodagu. He had kept 20,000 Christians in captivity at Srirangapatna.” Pai said.
“Some people try to glorify donations made by Tipu to Sringeri Math. But Tipu did it in order to pacify people who were upset with him for his failure to win wars. It is wrong to describe Tipu as a freedom fighter.” Pai opined.
“The government should organise birthdays of Sir Mirza Ismail, Sir M Visvesvaraya and Wadiyars of erstwhile Mysuru royal family for their contribution to the development of the state” Pai said.