The recent controversy flared after cultural group Tehrik-e-Khudadad submitted a memorandum to the Karnataka government seeking to reinstate the official Tipu Jayanti celebration on November 10. Priyank Kharge defended the historical figure by contrasting his military opposition to colonial forces against the RSS's absence from major freedom movements. He also pointed out political contradictions within the BJP, citing past praise for Tipu by former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. The Chief Minister's Office is currently weighing whether to revive the event and review textbook portrayals of Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali.
Key points
The Karnataka Chief Minister's Office is currently considering a formal request to revive…: The Karnataka Chief Minister's Office is currently considering a formal request to revive November 10 celebrations for Tipu Jayanti.
Priyank Kharge accused the BJP of opportunistic politics by highlighting BS Yediyurappa's…: Priyank Kharge accused the BJP of opportunistic politics by highlighting BS Yediyurappa's previous written praise for Tipu Sultan.
The state government maintains that Tipu Sultan's historical contributions cannot be remo…: The state government maintains that Tipu Sultan's historical contributions cannot be removed from Karnataka's historical record.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
NEW DELHI: Karnataka home minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday defended Tipu Sultan, saying that while the former Mysore ruler fought four Anglo-Mysore Wars, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had "no role in India's freedom struggle.""The BJP needs to get its history right. Tipu Sultan fought four Anglo-Mysore Wars. The RSS did not even participate in the freedom struggle. They did not take part in the Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement, Dandi March or Non-Cooperation Movement, nor were they involved in any of the Round Table Conferences. They did nothing, yet they are the ones dictating terms," Priyank Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, told reporters.
The RSS is the ideological mentor of the BJP, which is the principal opposition party in Karnataka and has been India's governing party since 2014.The Congress leader also cited a book in which senior BJP leader and former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa had praised Tipu Sultan, accusing the BJP of engaging in "pure opportunistic politics". Priyank Kharge alleged that the saffron party adopts a pro-minority stance while seeking votes but changes its…
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