Tipu’s birth anniversary bash not aimed at appeasing minorities: Jaffer Sharief

Bengaluru: Former Union minister and senior Congress leader, Mr Jaffer Sharief advised the state government to sit with leaders of all political parties to discuss whose anniversary should and should not be celebrated in the wake of the controversy surrounding the celebrations of Tipu Jayanti as a government sponsored programme.

Talking to Deccan Chronicle here on Thursday, he said signatures of all leaders who attend the meeting to air their opinion should be obtained.

By doing that, they would become a party to any celebrations organised by the government. “I do not know whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah did this exercise before announcing the celebration of Tipu birth anniversary as a government programme. However, it is left to the discretion of the CM whether or not to take everyone into confidence. I do not remember receiving an invitation from the government to attend the first ever Tipu Jayanthi celebrations.”

Mr Sharief said nobody can dispute the bravery of Tipu Sultan who fought against the British army and died in the battle field. A few years ago, a tele-serial on Tipu Sultan-the tiger of Mysuru, was telecast in Doordarshan highlighting the contributions of Tipu Sultan.  In fact, Indira Gandhi had participated in a function held in Srirangapatna as part of Tipu’s celebrations a few decades ago. “I did not know why people have become narrow minded. Now, Tipu is not alive and his descendants are not staking claim to his property. Celebrating Tipu’s birth anniversary is not aimed at appeasement of minorities but only to remember that great warrior.”

‘Demeaning Tipu’s image’

Any political party which accuses the State government of playing ‘vote bank’ politics by organising birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan is demeaning the image of Tipu who fought against the enemy of the country, said state Youth Congress President Rizwan Arshad.

He said the Sangh parivar and BJP, without reading Indian history, was opposing Tipu Jayanthi claiming that Tipu Sultan was anti-Hindu and a religious bigot. CM Siddaramaiah had announced his government’s decision to hold Tipu’s birth anniversary last year which gave these leaders ample time to move court against the decision if they had documents to prove that Tipu was anti-Hindu and converted thousands of Hindus to Islam.

“The State government would not have taken the risk of losing the majority Hindu votes by holding Tipu birth anniversary, if he (Tipu) was anti-Hindu. Unfortunately, the BJP is trying to give a communal colour to the celebrations,” Mr Arshad said.

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