No change in state government's stand on Tipu Jayanti: Kumaraswamy

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Wednesday said there was no change in the state the government's stand on Tipu Jayanti and defended his absence at this year's celebration of birth anniversary of controversial 18th century Mysore kingdom ruler Tipu Sultan. It was not necessary for the Chief Minister to attend every programme, he told reporters here when asked about his absence at the celebration on November 10 held amid protests by the BJP.

"There is no agenda before our government to bring in any change with respect to the celebration of Tipu Jayanti... there is no confusion," he said amid reports that the government might drop the celebrations in view of 'differences' over it in the Congress-JDS coalition. He hit out at BJP, without naming it, for creating "confusion" about Tipu Jayanti for the sake of politics. Kumaraswamy said BJP leaders' had participated in Tipu Jayanti when the party was in power.

Tipu Jayanti has been celebrated"smoothly" by this the government, without giving chance for any untoward incident, he added. Kumaraswamy skipped the main event of Tipu Jayanti held at the VidhanaSoudha, the state secretariat, citing advice by doctors to take rest for three days till November 11, while his deputy G Parameshwarawas reportedly in Singapore to visit an ailing senior politician from the state. Voices of disapproval started emerging from within the ruling coalition over Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister's absence, with Congress MLA Tanveer Sait terming it as an "insult" to the Muslim community. According to sources, several Congress leaders, especially those from the Muslim community, were also miffed over the top two leaders not attending the event.

Defending his absence from Tipu Jayanti celebrations on Saturday, Kumaraswamy questioned if it was necessary for a Chief Minister to attend every programme. He said "it was a government programme, there will be representatives from the government, there will be ministers. There is nothing that the Chief Minister should participate...." While in the opposition, Kumaraswamy had questioned the need for Tip Jayanti which was started by the previous Siddaramaiah-led Congress government from 2015. Kumaraswamy reportedly chose to avoid the event as he did not want to antagonise voters in his party's bastion of old Mysuru region, as Tipu Sultan along with his father Hyder Ali had seized power from the Maharajas of Mysuru, who are highly revered there. On the arrest of a journalist for allegedly making an inflammatory speech against TipuJayanti in Kodagu district, Kumaraswamy pleaded ignorance about the reason for the detention. "I will seek information and react," he said. Santosh Thammaiah employed with Kannada daily "Hosa Digantha" was arrested Monday night under Indian Penal Code section 295(A) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings). Thammaiah has been released on bail while the BJP condemned his arrest.