Tipu Sultan Jayanti updates: Section 144 imposed in Coorg; hundreds of BJP workers detained across Karnataka

BJP protesters detained in Karwar

Financial Express reports that BJP workers protesting against Tipu Jayanti celebrations in Karwar have been detained by the police.

Karnataka DCP Renuka Sukumar says over 150 BJP workers have been detained

Have detained more than 150 BJP workers in Hubli protesting against #TipuJayanti celebration: Renuka Sukumar, DCP #Karnataka

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2017

Section 144 imposed in Coorg, reports Financial Express

Section 144 has already been imposed in Kodagu.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar backs Tipu Jayanti celebrations, says we should learn from the good he has done

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar backs #TipuJayanti celebrations; Says we should look at the good deeds he has done, and learn from mistakes pic.twitter.com/2JBqrzCgwd

— News18 (@CNNnews18) November 10, 2017

Hubballi: 200 BJP workers detained for protesting against Tipu Jayanti without permission

#Karnataka: 200 BJP workers detained for protesting against Tipu Jayanti without permission in Hubballi

— TOI Cities (@TOICitiesNews) November 10, 2017

Karnataka chief minister’s official twitter account hails “Tiger of Mysore”

Honouring India’s first freedom fighter & the Tiger of Mysore for his bravery & sacrifice in fighting the British. Karnataka salutes his patriotism, courage & military excellence. #TipuJayanti pic.twitter.com/0x3ymK8yKd

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) November 10, 2017

Members of Tipu Sultan United Front gather outside Bengaluru’s Tipu Sultan Palace

Karnataka: Members of Tipu Sultan United Front gather outside Bengaluru's Tipu Sultan Palace on #TipuJayanti pic.twitter.com/CyALKNpicG

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2017

Anti-Tipu Jayani protests break out in Karnataka

​

20 people have been detained in Gulbarga while 50 were detained in Shimoga, according to CNN-News18.

#BREAKING -- Twenty people detained in Gulbarga, and over 50 detained in Shimoga for protests against #TipuJayanti celebrations pic.twitter.com/o4snP0mkJc

— News18 (@CNNnews18) November 10, 2017

Protesters set tyres on fire, raise slogans against government

Protesters staging protest on NH4 in Nelamangala sat in the middle of the road and raised slogans against the government, reports Financial Express . They also set tyres on fire.

BJP workers detained in Udupi as well

#NewsAlert -- Police detain BJP workers in Udupi for protesting against #TipuJayanti celebrations pic.twitter.com/3pwoovyBed

— News18 (@CNNnews18) November 10, 2017

Police detains BJP workers taking part in anti-Tipu Jayanti protests in Karnataka’s Hubli & Kodagu

BJP workers take part in anti-#TipuJayanti protests in #Karnataka's Hubli & Kodagu; protesters detained by Police at both places. pic.twitter.com/i9Zz95gjEI

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2017

Historian Irfan Habib weighs in

It is sad that politics has turned Tipu into a divisive historical figure. Like many other 18th cen rulers, he was not a democrat, did indulge in oppression but was not a communal bigot he is made out to be. Even celebrations of historical figures are politically motivated.

— S lrfan Habib एस इरफान हबीब عرفان حبئب (@irfhabib) November 10, 2017

BJP says Congress govt worried about Tipu instead of state’s public 

BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain on Friday said that Congress government in Karnataka is not paying attention to the problem of public, Sify New reported. BJP spokesperson Zafar Islam said that Congress performs these kinds of stunts to appease people

Ram Nath Kovind’s praise for Tipu Sultan had reignited debate over Tipu

Historians and teachers see Tipu Sultan as a secular, progressive king

The Economic Times  called Tipu Sultan the original innovator. The Tiger of Mysore was constantly looking for the best global technology for his kingdom. Records suggest that he developed industries, laid the foundation of the silk trade and encouraged foreign technology. For this, he establisehd banking networks and cooperatives.

Tipu Sultan finds support from the little ones: In Bengaluru, a seven-year-old dresses up as Tipu Sultan

Bengaluru: Seven-year-old dresses up as Tipu Sultan outside Tipu Sultan Palace #TipuJayanti pic.twitter.com/Uyo7DsGgGx

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2017

Madikeri MLA, MLC detained for opposing Tipu Jayanti

Legislators representing Madikeri (MLA Appachu Ranjan and MLC Sunil Subramani) were detained for opposing Tipu Jayanti event by waving black flag, reported Deccan Herald .

BJP’s bandh call in Madikeri to oppose Tipu Jayanti gets good response

The bandh called by the opposition BJP to oppose Tipu Jayanti has got good response in Madikeri pic.twitter.com/6sQD4Jn6F5

— Deccan Herald (@DeccanHerald) November 10, 2017

RECAP: Karnataka HC rejects plea for interim stay on Tipu Jayanti celebrations

The Karnataka High Court rejected an interim prayer seeking a stay on ‘Tipu Jayanti’ celebrations to be held across the state and directed the state government to file objections to the petitioner’s submissions on the matter in four weeks.

The petitioner, KP Manjunath, sought a direction to restrain the celebrations in his home district of Kodagu, saying it would foment communal disharmony.

The order was passed by a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice HG Ramesh and Justice PS Dinesh Kumar after the petitioner failed to convince the court which had sought to know whether the expenses on Tipu Jayanti celebrations were being incurred by the state.

Did Tipu Sultan choose his royal emblems (the tiger, the Sun) to endear himself to non-Muslim subjects?

In her book Tiger: The Life of Tipu Sultan (extract available on Scroll ), Kate Brittlebank discusses whether Tipu Sultan chose his royal emblems to endear himself to non-Muslim subjects.

Varying accounts of Tipu Sultan’s treatment of Hindus at root of conflict

The conflict over Tipu Sultan’s legacy arose due to the various historical accounts of how he treated Hindus during his rule between 1782 and 1799, according to Livemint . A local community called the Kodavas say that Tipu Sultan was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of their community members. They add that the ruler had used torture to convert people to Islam.

Images of the bus at which stones were thrown in Madikeri

Stones thrown at a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus in Madikeri, during protest against Tipu Jayanti celebrations pic.twitter.com/SgZQ9iD9wH

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2017

Visuals of increased security in Kalaburagi in Karnataka

#Visuals of tightened security in Karnataka's Kalaburagi on #TipuJayanti pic.twitter.com/yFNxXTURLd

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2017

RECAP: Ram Nath Kovind’s praise for Tipu Sultan reignites debate over Mysore ruler

President Ram Nath Kovind, while addressing a joint session of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council on the 60th anniversary of Vidhan Soudha had hailed Tipu’s sacrifice. He said, “Tipu Sultan died a historic death fighting the British. He also pioneered the use of Mysore rockets in warfare.” Congress members thumped the desks in appreciation as the President mentioned Tipu’s name, much to the embarrassment of the BJP members present in the Assembly.

RECAP:  Union minister Anantkumar Hegde asks Karnataka govt to not invite him to ‘shameful’ Tipu Jayanti

In October, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Anantkumar Hegde had asked the top officials of the Karnataka government to not include his name in the programme invitations for Tipu Jayanti.

In a letter addressed to the chief secretary of the state and the deputy commissioner of Uttara Kannada district, Hegde directed them to not invite him to the “shameful event” to mark the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan on 10 November. Making the request public on Twitter, Hedge said Tipu Sultan was “knwon as (a) brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist”.

BJP MLA tells Siddaramaiah to go to Pakistan

Belagavi Rural BJP MLA Sanjay Patil pulled out the standard anti-national remark as he told Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah to go to Pakistan, reported India Today . He also questioned whether Siddaramaiah was born in Lahore or Mysuru.

Stones thrown at Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus in Madikeri as protests continue against Tipu Jayanti celebrations

Stones thrown at a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus in Madikeri, during protest against Tipu Jayanti celebrations

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2017

RECAP: BJP, RSS had protested Tipu Jayanti celebrations at Bengaluru’s Town Hall

On Wednesday, hundreds of BJP and RSS workers had gathered at the Town Hall in Bengaluru to protest the state government’s planned Tipu Jayanti celebrations across Karnataka on Friday, Zee News  had reported.

Muslims form significant portion of AHINDA (acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalit) which had helped the Congress win in 2013

Writing for Livemint , Sharan Poovanna asserts that the Siddaramaiah-led state government is insisting on celebrating Tipu Jayanti as Muslims make up a significant portion of the chief minister’s AHINDA (acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalit) support base which helped him win in 2013.

Kodagu district administration imposes prohibitory orders for 48 hours

The Times of India quoted Kodagu district collector Richard Vincent as saying that these orders will help maintain law and order in the district. These will however not apply to government events and celebrations in Madikeri, Virajpet and Somwarpet.

State machinery clicks into high gear; BJP calls protests across state

BJP has called protests across Karnataka, according to India Today . The State machinery has clicked into high gear as CCTV cameras have been installed, history sheeters have been made to sign bonds which say that they won’t cause any problems, and sale of liquor has been banned for the day.

Karnataka Congress tweets about Tipu Jayanti

ನಾಡಿನ ಸಮಸ್ತ ಜನತೆಗೆ ಟಿಪ್ಪು ಜಯಂತಿಯ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು.

India remembers 'Tiger of Mysore' Tipu Sultan who fought valiantly against the British. #TipuJayanti pic.twitter.com/4VSQSWjy5A

— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) November 10, 2017

Police conducted a flag march in sensitive areas of Mysuru

In Mysuru, the police took out a flag march in sensitive areas of the city on Wednesday, reported City Today .

BJP terms Congress government’s Tipu Jayanti celebrations as Muslim appeasement

The News Minute reported that the BJP has termed the Congress government’s move of observing Tipu Jayanti as an act of Muslim appeasement. Its leaders have asked that they not be invited to the celebrations.

Prohibitory orders in five Karnataka districts

Five Karnataka districts are under prohibitory orders and these could be extended to other districts if needed, said the police, according to The Times of India . Further, 1000 mischief-mongers have been taken into preventive custody in different parts of the state.