The Congress leader said the motive behind the statue is to tell people about Tipu Sultan’s rule.
Mysore:
Senior Congress legislator and former minister Tanveer Sait said on Saturday that there were plans to install a 100-feet tall statue of Tipu Sultan, the erstwhile ruler of Mysore state, either here or in Srirangapatna.
While Congress leader Siddaramaiah has supported such a move, state minister and BJP leader CN Ashwath Narayan said it could never happen in Karnataka.
“I am not alone, I will call a meeting of community leaders and decide whether to install the statue (of Tipu) in Mysuru or Srirangapatna. How to go about it, its nature, restrictions imposed by courts on installing statues From where to get permission, whether it is in bronze or five-metal alloys, we need to discuss all this,” Mr Sait said.
Talking to reporters, the Congress leader said the objective behind the statue is to inform people, especially the youth, about the realities of Tipu Sultan’s rule and his contribution to the freedom struggle.
“There is no scope for installing idols in Islam. If this was permitted, there would be idols everywhere. Nevertheless, I have said this with the intention of bringing to light Tipu’s rule, which was a model for a democratic government, With Prohibition.” , emphasis on education and employment, silk and wooden toy industries, land reforms, among others,” he said.
Mr Sait’s plan comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unveiled a 108-feet tall statue of Bengaluru founder Nada Prabhu Kempegowda near the Kempegowda International Airport in the capital city.
The BJP and several right-wing groups have opposed the proposal for Tipu’s statue. Shri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik has even warned that it will be demolished just like Babri Masjid.
Responding to criticism after his announcement, Sait, an MLA from Narasimharaja constituency, said everyone including him should follow the Constitution and he too has certain rights in this country like other people.
He said, “The talk of breaking the statue even before it is installed is with the intention of creating an atmosphere towards spoiling the unity of the state and the country.”
Responding to a question on Sait’s statement, Union minister Pralhad Joshi termed it as part of appeasement politics, saying the BJP’s view was clear that Tipu was a “religious bigot, anti-Hindu and anti-Kannada”, and the government as such A move at the right time will answer.
“There is police and government system. For installation of any idol, the permission of the government is required. Let them come up with such a proposal. We will see, can’t speak irresponsibly now,” he said. Questioned whether Sait and others would do this. Light a lamp and incense sticks (incense sticks) in front of the proposed Tipu statue.
Minister Ashwath Narayan said that setting up the statue of Tipu will remain a dream.
He said, “This can never happen in Karnataka. They will have to do it elsewhere.”
Meanwhile, questioning why Tipu’s statue should not be installed, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said: “Let them do (install) it. Doesn’t Tipu deserve it? If they want to do it, they should let’s do it.” While the BJP and some Hindu organizations see Tipu as a “religious fanatic” and a “brutal murderer”, some Kannada organizations call him “anti-Kannada”, saying he promoted Persian at the expense of the local language .
In 2019, the BJP government canceled the annual ‘Tipu Jayanti’ (jubilee celebrations), which was being organized by administrations across the state since 2015 (under the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government).
Tipu Sultan was the ruler of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore and was considered an implacable enemy of the British East India Company. He was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort at Srirangapatna against the British forces.
However, he is a controversial figure in Kodagu district because the Kodavas (Coorgis), a martial caste, believe that during his occupation thousands of their men and women were seized and held captive and tortured into Islam, Was subjected to death and forced conversion.
He was also accused of executing the Mandyam Iyengars in the temple town of Melukote in Mandya district on Diwali day because they supported the then Maharaja of Mysore.
However, the scale of such repression is disputed by many historians, who see him as a secular and modern ruler who wielded the might of the British.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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