Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)
Udupi, Nov 7: A press conference was held by Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Vedike at Udupi Press Club on Wednesday November 7 in connection with the protest the pro-Hindu organizations plan to hold against the government's decision to go ahead with the celebration of Tipu Jayanti.
Regional convener of Bajrang Dal's Karnataka (south) unit, Sunil K R, addressing the press conference, termed Tipu Sultan as a person who was bitterly opposed to Kannada language and culture, besides being a communal. "Tipu was a killer who demolished temples and churches. We are strongly opposed to celebrating his birthday. We hereby urge Karnataka government to immediately drop the decision to organize Tipu Jayanti. Tipu was anti-national and was against other religions. The government is not giving importance to the sentiments of the majority people. Because of Tipu's deeds, Deepavali is not being celebrated in Kodagu district even now," he said.
Sunil stoutly opposed the government's effort to project Tipu as a nationalist and freedom fighter.
The media persons drew the attention of the leaders of Hindu organizations that the government has asked people not to protest against Tipu Jayanti. Chief Minister, H D Kumaraswamy, has advised people uninterested to celebrate Tipu Jayanti to stay indoors.
The leaders of Hindu organizations said that they will hold protest in this case as it relates to nationalism. They pointed out that Tipu had demolished over 8,000 temples. The organizations are yet to finalize their decision on the form and venue of holding the protest programme.
They decried Tipu Jayanti as a wrong initiative undertaken by the government to appease a section of the society. They also advised the government to stop insulting its people.
District convener of Bajrang Dal, Dinesh Mendon, Hindu Jagarana Vedike district president, Prashanth Nayak, district chief secretary of Hindu Jagarana Vedike, Prakash Kukkehalli, and Hindu Jagarana Vedike secretary, Shankar Kota, were present.