From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 30: Bengaluru, Jul 30: It will be RIP (Rest in Peace) for the celebration of the birthday of the 18th century ruler Tipu Sultan of Mysore also known as Tiger of Mysore, which was being celebrated as a government function throughout Karnataka by the erstwhile Congress government headed by Siddaramaiah apparently with a view to win over the minority Muslim community, as the BJP government headed by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has decided to scrap it throughout the State.

While the Congress party leaders stoutly defended the observation of Tipu Jayanti started by the Siddaramaiah regime from 2015, the opposition BJP had opposed the celebration as the party had termed the 18th century ruler as a ``tyrant’’ who committed atrocities against the other minority community of Christians and also the Kodavas.

Soon after passing the floor test in the State Legislative Assembly on Monday, one of the first major decision taken by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa was to cancel the observation of the Tipu Jayanti celebrations by the Kannada and Culture Department throughout the State.
The decision to scrap the Tipu Jayanti was taken based on a representation to the State Government by Virajpet BJP MLA K G Bopaiah, former speaker of Karnataka Assembly.

The Siddaramaiah regime had started the Tipu Jayanti as a State Government function, which was first entrusted to the Minority Welfare Department and subsequently entrusted to the Kannada and Culture Department.

However, there were widespread protests in different parts of the State, especially in Kodagu district and Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. It even led to bandhs and violent clashes resulting in the death of a person in Kodagu district and loss as well destruction of private and public properties.

The BJP had even threatened to scrap the Tipu Jayanti after coming to power.

Tipu had ruled Mysore kingdom from 1750 till his death in a battle in Srirangapatna in May 1799.

BJP had promised in its assembly election manifesto of 2018 that it will cancel Tipu Jayanti if the party attains power in the state. In addition, the BJP leaders had protested against the government sponsoring the event.

K G Bopaiah of BJP had requested for the cancellation of Tipu Jayanti during the regime of the previous governments due to the clashes that occurred in Madikeri during the celebration. In his appeal, Bopaiah had said, "There were protests against the celebration of Tipu Jayanti from various districts of the state, including the district of Kodagu. In addition, people have lost their lives also in the clashes. There was widespread damage to public property. Even today, the communal harmony of the district is disturbed." In the background of all these developments, Bopaiah had appealed to take out an official order to cancel Tipu Jayanti celebration.

The appeal of former speaker K G Bopaiah was presented in the cabinet meeting that was held on July 29. The cabinet has ordered to cancel the Tipu Jayanti that was being celebrated state-wide during the past two governments. Accordingly, an official order to this effect is given by the government.