No Tipu Jayanti if BJP voted to power: Jagadish Shettar

Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar in an oblique reference, said that if his party was voted to power in the State, it would not celebrate the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan as a government sponsored programme.

“We have been opposing it, there will be no change in our stand in future too,” he added. Holding Chief Minister Siddaramaiah responsible for the Madikeri violence, Mr Shettar, while talking to reporters, demanded his resignation.

The CM was blaming opposition parties to cover up the mistakes of his two and a half year old government. These were deliberate tactics of Mr Siddaramaiah to divert the attention of people to remain in power for the next 30 months.

“What prompted the government to advance the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan to November 10 when his actual birth date is November 20? It has been done purposefully to bully opposition parties,” he said.

The former CM said the district administration of Kodagu district has failed to take preventive measures despite being aware of strong opposition to the celebration. Miscreants from Kerala came to Madikeri town with lethal weapons and attacked the VHP activists who had gathered in the town to stage a protest, he alleged.

 Mr Shettar also accused the CM of playing vote bank politics to appease the minorities. There is a complete breakdown of law and order and a spurt in crimes across the state, he said.

The former CM urged RDPR Minister H.K. Patil to publish a White Paper on the direction from his secretary to deposit around Rs 80 crore received as grants for various projects, in a private bank. Besides, the inquiry report by senior IAS officer, Mr Sridhar on parking of funds in banks, should be made public, he demanded.

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